Black seed
•Last Updated: September 28 2022
Black seed is most often used for
Last Updated: September 28 2022
When looking at the human evidence in particular, nigella sativa appears to have a general health protective effect of a very small magnitude. It is able to reduce triglycerides and glucose when elevated and can normalize cholesterol metabolism (although not HDL-C) as well, but the amount of benefit it confers is too small for it to be considered a good intervention. It's also modestly effective as a general anti-inflammatory agent and may be useful in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis.
Nigella sativa shows more promise as an immune booster (no evidence on rates of sickness, but it seems to increase the ability of macrophages to attack invaders) and an anti-allergic compound (with efficacy against allergic rhinitis, asthma, and eczema). One study that used nigella sativa alongside a proton pump inhibitor noted that the seed extract was potently anti-bacterial against helicobacter pylori with a comparable potency to the reference drugs used.
Lastly, in men with central obesity, the seeds were noted to greatly improve symptoms of obesity, such as loss of libido, forgetfulness, high appetite, aches and arthalgia, sleeplessness, and laziness. But further evidence is needed to confirm these effects.
Note that Black seed is also known as:
- Nigella Cretica
- Black Cumin
- Black Seeds
- Roman Coriander
- Nutmeg Flower
- Fennel Flower
- Ajaji
- Nigella Sativa
Black seed should not be confused with:
- Black pepper
- Black Cohosh
- Cumin (which is 'true' cumin
- or Cuminum cyminum)
- Fennel (Foeniculum vulgare)
- Nutmeg (Myristica genus)
Studies generally have the participants supplement with the seeds of nigella sativa, either a seed extract (a crushed powder of the seeds with no further processing or concentration) or seed oil, in the form of a capsule. The most common dosage is 1–3 grams per day.
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1.^Qidwai W, Hamza HB, Qureshi R, Gilani AEffectiveness, safety, and tolerability of powdered Nigella sativa (kalonji) seed in capsules on serum lipid levels, blood sugar, blood pressure, and body weight in adults: results of a randomized, double-blind controlled trialJ Altern Complement Med.(2009 Jun)
3.^Ahmad A, Husain A, Mujeeb M, Khan SA, Najmi AK, Siddique NA, Damanhouri ZA, Anwar F, Kishore KA review on therapeutic potential of Nigella sativa: A miracle herbAsian Pac J Trop Biomed.(2013 May)
4.^Ali BH, Blunden GPharmacological and toxicological properties of Nigella sativaPhytother Res.(2003 Apr)
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6.^Salem MLImmunomodulatory and therapeutic properties of the Nigella sativa L. seedInt Immunopharmacol.(2005 Dec)
8.^Chemical composition and microflora of black cumin (Nigella sativa L.) seeds growing in Saudi Arabia.()
9.^Houghton PJ, Zarka R, de las Heras B, Hoult JRFixed oil of Nigella sativa and derived thymoquinone inhibit eicosanoid generation in leukocytes and membrane lipid peroxidationPlanta Med.(1995 Feb)
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12.^Nutritional profile of indigenous cultivar of black cumin seeds and antioxidant potential of its fixed and essential oil.()
14.^Keyhanmanesh R, Bagban H, Nazemieh H, Mirzaei Bavil F, Alipour MRThe main relaxant constituents of nigella sativa methanolic fraction on Guinea pig tracheal chainsIran J Allergy Asthma Immunol.(2013 May 15)
16.^Ali Z, Ferreira D, Carvalho P, Avery MA, Khan IANigellidine-4-O-sulfite, the first sulfated indazole-type alkaloid from the seeds of Nigella sativaJ Nat Prod.(2008 Jun)
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21.^Quantification and diversity in the black seeds (Nigella sativa L.): Gene stock of Pakistan for their composition of mineral nutrients.()
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26.^STUDIES ON THE CHEMICAL CONSTITUTION OF EGYPTIAN NIGELLA SATIVA L. SEEDS. II1) THE ESSENTIAL OIL.()
27.^Antibacterial Activity of Thymoquinone and Thymohydroquinone of Nigella sativa L. and Their Interaction with Some Antibiotics.()
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39.^Gilani AH, Aziz N, Khurram IM, Chaudhary KS, Iqbal ABronchodilator, spasmolytic and calcium antagonist activities of Nigella sativa seeds (Kalonji): a traditional herbal product with multiple medicinal usesJ Pak Med Assoc.(2001 Mar)
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47.^Antidiabetic Activity of Nigella sativa. Seed Extract in Cultured Pancreatic β-cells, Skeletal Muscle Cells, and Adipocytes.()
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52.^Gilhotra N, Dhingra DThymoquinone produced antianxiety-like effects in mice through modulation of GABA and NO levelsPharmacol Rep.(2011)
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