Cardiovascular Effects of Nigella Sativa on Isolated Rabbit Heart and its Impact on Cardiac Remodeling

Background: Black Cumin/Nigella sativa (NS) which belongs to the botanical family of Ranunculaceae commonly grows in Eastern Europe, the Middle East, and Western Asia. Its prolonged use can produce physiological changes with or without affecting the architecture of different organs like the heart (cardiac remodeling). The data for the cardiovascular benefits of black cumin are not well-established scientifically. Objectives: To determine the direct cardiovascular effects of Nigella Sativa extract on heart rate, cardiac contractility (apical force), ECG, and coronary flow in the normal heart with and without cardiac remodeling. Methods: This experimental study was conducted on forty-two (42) rabbits. These rabbits were divided into seven groups, each comprising six animals (Group I-VI without cardiac remodeling and Group VII with cardiac remodeling). NS was given to these groups in different doses i.e, Group I (NS=10ug), Group II (NS=30ug), Group III (NS=100ug), Group IV (NS=300ug), Group V (NS=3000ug), Group VI (NS=10000ug) and VII (NS=300ug). Radnoti's working heart system was used to determine the effects of NS on heart rate, cardiac contractility (apical Force), ECG, and coronary flow in a normal heart with and without cardiac remodeling. The results were analyzed using SPSS version 28.   Results: Results of this study revealed negative chronotropic and positive inotropic effects without ECG changes in the normal heart and with ECG changes in the remodeled heart. Conclusions: Prolonged use of Nigella sativa can lead to disturbed ECG by affecting the conducting tissue.

Masculine Politics and Women Political Participation in Punjab, Pakistan

This mixed methods research study intended to explore how the feminine identities of women are used to undermine women capacities, create social barriers and restrict their political participation. For the qualitative research 20 women registered voters were recruited from Bhawana city, District Chiniot, purposively along with 8 women parliamentarians from different political parties. The information collected from the respondents was analyzed through thematic analysis. The results demonstrated the strong hold of domesticity ideology, gendered division of labor and roles, clear demarcation of private and public sphere, strong adherence to biological determinism, hegemonic masculinities and dominance of feminized outlook. The quantitative part of the study comprised of cross sectional survey of 414 women voters from selected villages of Tehsil 18 Hazari, District Jhang and Tehsil Gujar Khan, District Rawalpindi. Model fit indices of femininity, gender roles, political behaviors (political efficacy, political interest, political culture, political socialization), political trust and political participation showed the goodness of fit of samples through Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA). The descriptive analysis elaborated that respondents scored high on femininity, traditional gender roles and patriarchal political culture and low on political interest, political efficacy, political socialization and political participation. The Correlational Analysis described that femininity is negatively correlated with political participation, political efficacy, political trust, political socialization and political trust (conduct of politicians) and positively with patriarchal political culture and political trust (performance and ability of the politicians). Structure Equation Model (SEM) also confirmed the above results.