An Overview on Composition and Therapeutic Potentials of the Black Seed (Nigella sativa)

Abstract: Nigella sativa is an annual herbaceous plant that belongs to the Ranunculaceae family and produces seeds known as black seed or black cumin. Black seed has been used in various civilization around the world for centuries to treat various ailments. It is widely used in a variety of traditional medical systems, including Unani, Ayurveda, and Siddha. Black seed is considered to be nutritionally dense, with high levels of fat, protein, dietary fibre, calcium, and iron. The seed is known to have a wide range of pharmacological properties which are supported by numerous studies. Extensive research has been carried out over decades to confirm the seed’s anti-oxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-microbial, anti-diabetic, anti-hypertensive, antilipidemic, anti-cancer, gastroprotective, hepatoprotective, neuroprotective properties etc. Black seed has earned a position among the top ranked evidence-based herbal medicines due to its marvellous healing properties. Studies have revealed that the presence of thymoquinone, a major bioactive component of the seed essential oil, is responsible for the majority of its therapeutic properties. Consumption of the seeds for an extended period of time has been shown to have significant effects on lowering blood glucose levels, improving lipid profiles, and other biochemical parameters. The minor or negligible toxicological effects of black seed and its active constituent, thymoquinone, support its long-term use in traditional food and medicine. Because of their low toxicity, black seed is frequently used in food as a flavouring agent, additive in breads, and pickles. The current review summarises the composition, important pharmacological studies, dosage and toxicity of the Blackseed and its application in food industry.

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Nigella sativa (Kalonji): A Black Seed of Miracle

International Journal of Research and Review ◽

10.52403/ijrr.20210441 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 8 (4) ◽

pp. 342-357

Author(s):

Shifali Thakur ◽

Hemlata Kaurav ◽

Gitika Chaudhary

Keyword(s):

Nigella Sativa ◽

Chemical Constituents ◽

Acne Vulgaris ◽

World Health ◽

Pharmacological Properties ◽

Gulf Region ◽

Medicinal Uses ◽

Black Cumin ◽

Black Seed ◽

Wide Range

It is recommended by the World health organization (WHO) that most of the world's population depends on herbal medicine for their health care. Nigella sativa is commonly known as a Black seed, Black cumin or 'Habbatul Barakah' i.e. an annual herb possessing a wide range of medicinal uses apart from its commercial significance as a spice yielding plant. It has long been used in the folk medicine system of the Arabian Gulf region, Far East Asia, and Europe. Seeds and oils of N. Sativa are the primary medicinal source from ancient times. It is one of the most common herbal plants used worldwide and possesses various chemical constituents such as thymoquinone, thymohydroquinone, dithymoquinone, thymol, nigellicine, carvacrol, nigellicine, nigllimine, nigellidine, and alpha-hederin. There are more than 100 constituents isolated from the plant. These chemical compounds have many pharmacological activities such as antibacterial, antiviral, anti-inflammatory, wound healing effect and also for acne vulgaris, skin cancer, pigmentation and many other cosmeceutical properties. Much scientific research on N. sativa has been conducted over the last five decades to investigate chemical and pharmacological properties. In this review, the phytochemicals, pharmacological properties, Ayurvedic properties and folk uses of Nigella sativa are briefly explained. Keywords: Nigella sativa, Kalonji, Antinephrotic, Immunomodulary, Black cumin.

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Nigella sativa L. (Black Cumin): A Promising Natural Remedy for Wide Range of Illnesses

Evidence-based Complementary and Alternative Medicine ◽

10.1155/2019/1528635 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 2019 ◽

pp. 1-16 ◽

Cited By ~ 26

Author(s):

Ebrahim M. Yimer ◽

Kald Beshir Tuem ◽

Aman Karim ◽

Najeeb Ur-Rehman ◽

Farooq Anwar

Keyword(s):

Potential Role ◽

Viral Infections ◽

Nigella Sativa ◽

Antioxidant Property ◽

Biological Properties ◽

Chemotherapeutic Agents ◽

Active Constituent ◽

Black Cumin ◽

Inflammatory Conditions ◽

Wide Range

The seed of Nigella sativa (N. sativa) has been used in different civilization around the world for centuries to treat various animal and human ailments. So far, numerous studies demonstrated the seed of Nigella sativa and its main active constituent, thymoquinone, to be medicinally very effective against various illnesses including different chronic illness: neurological and mental illness, cardiovascular disorders, cancer, diabetes, inflammatory conditions, and infertility as well as various infectious diseases due to bacterial, fungal, parasitic, and viral infections. In spite of limited studies conducted so far, the promising efficacy of N. sativa against HIV/AIDS can be explored as an alternative option for the treatment of this pandemic disease after substantiating its full therapeutic efficacy. Moreover, the strong antioxidant property of this valued seed has recently gained increasing attention with regard to its potential role as dietary supplement with minimal side effects. Besides, when combined with different conventional chemotherapeutic agents, it synergizes their effects resulting in reducing the dosage of concomitantly used drugs with optimized efficacy and least and/or no toxicity. A number of pharmaceutical and biological properties have been ascribed to seeds of N. sativa. The present review focuses on the profile of high-value components along with traditional medicinal and biological principles of N. sativa seed and its oil so as to explore functional food and nutraceutical potential of this valued herb.

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Optimisation of the Oil Extraction from Nigella sativa Seeds Using Response Surface Methodology

Revista de Chimie ◽

10.37358/rc.17.2.5447 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 68 (2) ◽

pp. 331-336

Author(s):

Gabriela Isopencu ◽

Mirela Marfa ◽

Iuliana Jipa ◽

Marta Stroescu ◽

Anicuta Stoica Guzun ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Response Surface Methodology ◽

Response Surface ◽

Nigella Sativa ◽

Polynomial Equation ◽

Herbaceous Plant ◽

Box Behnken Design ◽

Pareto Analysis ◽

Black Cumin ◽

Mediterranean Countries ◽

Experimental Values

Nigella sativa, also known as black cumin, an annual herbaceous plant growing especially in Mediterranean countries, has recently gained considerable interest not only for its use as spice and condiment but also for its healthy properties of the fixed and essential oil and its potential as a biofuel. Nigella sativa seeds fixed oil, due to its high content in linoleic acid followed by oleic and palmitic acid, could be beneficial to human health. The objective of this study is to determine the optimum conditions for the solvent extraction of Nigella sativa seeds fixed oil using a three-level, three-factor Box-Behnken design (BBD) under response surface methodology (RSM). The obtained experimental data, fitted by a second-order polynomial equation were analysed by Pareto analysis of variance (ANOVA). From a total of 10 coefficients of the statistical model only 5 are important. The obtained experimental values agreed with the predicted ones.

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review of black seed extract as an agent in the wound healing process

Journal of Pharmacy ◽

10.31436/jop.v1i2.67 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 1 (2) ◽

pp. 87-96

Author(s):

Muhammad Hakeem Mohd Zaid ◽

Muhammad Faezuddin Hanafi ◽

Muhammad Salahuddin Haris

Keyword(s):

Wound Healing ◽

Nigella Sativa ◽

Healing Process ◽

Antioxidant Properties ◽

Microscopic Analysis ◽

Seed Extract ◽

Flowering Plant ◽

Wound Healing Process ◽

Black Cumin ◽

Black Seed

Introduction: Nigella Sativa or Black Cumin is an annual flowering plant that can be used for wound treatment. In the treatment for wound healing, this plant contains many beneficial components that can help with the treatment but this plant utilisation in the medical field is still limited. This review will provide an overview of the advantages when this plant is used in the wound healing treatment. Method: The review was based on the ROSES protocol, and the databases used were ScienceDirect, PubMed, and Google Scholar. After the search, only 11 papers had been chosen to be included in the results and they were divided into four main themes that were used for the analysis of the results. Results: The themes were gross analysis, microscopic analysis, biochemical analysis and antimicrobial analysis. Conclusion: In conclusion, the black seed extract contains several valuable properties, such as antimicrobial and antioxidant properties, which help improve the wound healing process. Further study needs to be done to discover more potential of Nigella Sativa in treating the wound.

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Black Cumin (Nigella sativa) and Its Active Constituent, Thymoquinone: An Overview on the Analgesic and Anti-inflammatory Effects

Planta Medica ◽

10.1055/s-0035-1557838 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 82 (01/02) ◽

pp. 8-16 ◽

Cited By ~ 24

Author(s):

Bahareh Amin ◽

Hossein Hosseinzadeh

Keyword(s):

Nigella Sativa ◽

Active Constituent ◽

Black Cumin ◽

Anti Inflammatory

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Black cumin Potential Anticancer effect of Black Cumin seed (Nigella sativa L.) extracts as determined by Cytotoxicity test against Larvae of Artemia salina Leach using Brine Shrimp Lethality Test (BSLT)

International Journal of PharmTech Research ◽

10.20902/ijptr.2019.130204 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 13 (2) ◽

pp. 25-29

Author(s):

Rasidah ◽

Vonna Aulianshah

Keyword(s):

Brine Shrimp ◽

Cytotoxic Effect ◽

Nigella Sativa ◽

Artemia Salina ◽

Cytotoxicity Test ◽

Black Cumin ◽

Black Seed ◽

Black Cumin Seed ◽

Seed Extracts ◽

Cumin Seed

Black cumin plant seed or black seed (Nigella sativa L.) is among the most commonly used spices. This plant is grown mostly for its spicy seeds. Studies have reported that black cumin seeds have high levels of antioxidant that correlates with anticancer activities. The current study aims to determine the cytotoxic effect of black seed extracts on brine shrimp larvae (Artemia salina Leach) using Brine Shrimp Lethality Test (BSLT). Black cumin seed extract was obtained through percolation method using an extraction solvent (ethanol 96%). The cytotoxicity test was performed at 0 ppm concentration (control) and 10, 50, 100, 250 and 500 ppm concentrations of black seed extracts. We use 10 Brine Shrimp larvae per tube and repeated the test three times for each test group. Our results show that ethanolic extract (90%) of black cumin seeds (Nigella sativa L.) has a strong cytotoxic effect on Artemia salina larvae with the LC50 value of 107.2 ppm.

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Determination of chemical composition of local black seeds Nigella sativa L

Baghdad Science Journal ◽

10.21123/bsj.4.2.244-247 ◽

2007 ◽

Vol 4 (2) ◽

pp. 244-247

Author(s):

Baghdad Science Journal

Keyword(s):

Fatty Acids ◽

Chemical Composition ◽

Nigella Sativa ◽

Mineral Element ◽

Black Cumin ◽

Black Seed ◽

Cobalt Nickel ◽

Black Seeds ◽

Seed Calcium

Chemical analysis for evaluation of Nigella sativa L. (black cumin) seeds showed a composition of Fat 39% ; Protein 28% ; Carbohydrate 21% ; Moisture 6% and Ash 4.5% . It was found that the black seed contains the following mineral element : Magnesium 0.26 gm /100gm seed ; Calcium 0.25 gm /100gm seed and Iron 25 ?g / gm /100gm seed ; zinc 4.51?g /gm /100gm seed and Copper 3.60 ?g /gm /100gm seed. The analysis also showed that mineral element I. e. ; lead ; Cobalt ; Nickel ; Chrom ; Cadmium and Aresenic are not present . It was found that the fat of the black seed contains the following fatty acids : Myristic 2.8%; Palmtic 16.6%; Stearic 0.8 % ; Oleic 13.79% ; Linoleic 64.2% and Arachidic 1.9% .

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Nigella sativa (black seed) safety: an overview

Asian Biomedicine ◽

10.1515/abm-2020-0020 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 14 (4) ◽

pp. 127-137

Author(s):

Habibeh Mashayekhi-Sardoo ◽

Ramin Rezaee ◽

Gholamreza Karimi

Keyword(s):

Nigella Sativa ◽

Aqueous Methanol ◽

Black Cumin ◽

Scientific Databases ◽

Black Seed ◽

Toxicological Profile ◽

Cytotoxicity Studies ◽

The Family ◽

Long Term Studies

AbstractNigella sativa (commonly known as black seed or black cumin), from the family Ranunculaceae, is a plant that grows in countries bordering the Mediterranean Sea. This narrative review discusses the toxicological profile reported by short- to long-term studies that examined different extracts and oils of N. sativa seeds. Scientific databases including Web of Science, PubMed, Scopus, and Google Scholar were searched using appropriate keywords. LD50 for administered N. sativa seed fixed oil varied from 28.8 mL/kg to 3,371 mg/kg in mice, while 21 g/kg of aqueous, methanol, and chloroform extracts of N. sativa did not lead to any mortality. Subacute toxicity evaluations indicated that aqueous, methanol, and chloroform extracts of N. sativa at doses as high as 6 g/kg do not produce toxicity. Investigation of chronic toxicity found that 2 mL/kg of N. sativa fixed oil is slightly toxic. Cytotoxicity studies indicated that N. sativa chloroform and petroleum ether extracts are more cytotoxic than its other extracts. Although studies that assessed N. sativa toxicity generally introduced it as a safe medicinal herb, to draw a more definitive conclusion on its safety, more detailed studies must be conducted.

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