Scientific Health Benefits of the “Panacea” Black Cumin Seed (Nigella sativa)
Introduction
Nigella sativa, commonly known as Black Cumin, Black Seed, or Black Cumin Seed is native to South Asia (R).
Black Cumin seed has been used in Middle Eastern folk medicine as a natural remedy for various diseases for over 2000 years (R).
“Use Black seed regularly, since it is a cure for every disease except death” (Prophet Muhammad) (R), and its many uses have earned Black Cumin the Arabic approbation “The Blessed Seed“ (R).
Raw seeds, seed oil, or seed extract have been used alone or in combination with other ingredients, as a traditional medicine in the treatment of various health conditions, such as eczema, cough, headache, diabetes, asthma, infection, and hypertension (R).
Due to its miraculous power of healing, Black Cumin has got the place among the top-ranked evidence-based herbal medicines (R).
Most of the therapeutic properties of Black Cumin seed are due to the presence of Thymoquinone which is a major bioactive component (30%-48%) of the essential oil (R).
Traditional Uses
Black Cumin “stimulates the body’s energy” and helps recover from fatigue and “disspiritedness” (R).
Its immune system boosting properties serve as a natural, safe way to build resistance against illness (R).
1) Black Cumin Oil is an Anti-Oxidant
Black Cumin oil appears to have antioxidant properties (R) and inhibits Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS) (R).
Black Cumin oil decreased the PTZ (Pentylenetetrazol) induced oxidative injury in the mouse brain tissue (R).
Black Cumin seeds restored the activity of red cell antioxidant enzymes in infected mice (with malarial parasite Plasmodium yoelli) (R).
2) Black Seed is an Anti-Inflammatory
Black Cumin seed (Thymoquinone) has anti-inflammatory properties and is good for both Th1 and Th2 dominance.
In mouse microglial cells, Thymoquinone significantly inhibited pro-inflammatory cytokines including IL-6, IL-1β, IL-12 (Th1 cytokine), Growth Colony Stimulating Factor (G-CSF), and pro-inflammatory chemokines such as MCP-5, IP-10, and MCP-1 (R).
It suppresses the production of Nitric oxide by macrophages (R) and inhibits NF-κB (NF-kappa B) (R).
3) Black Cumin Oil is Anti-Anxiety and Anti-Depressant
Black Cumin seeds have shown to stabilize mood, decrease anxiety and improve cognition in adolescent human males (R).
Black Cumin oil (Thymoquinone) exerts anti-anxiety properties in mice (R) and maybe a useful choice for the treatment of anxiety (R).
It may also have an anti-depressant and anti-fatigue effect in mice models (R).
Black Cumin seed decreases the activity of the nervous system (R).
Anti-anxiety properties of Black cumin oil appear to be due to increasing GABA (R).
4) Black Seed Extract Enhances Memory
Black Cumin seed enhances memory, attention, and cognition (R).
Black Cumin seed extract (500 mg) twice daily over the course of nine weeks in otherwise healthy elderly persons improved memory (R).
5) Black Seed Helps Digestion
Roasted Black seeds are given internally to stop vomiting (R).
A tincture prepared from the seeds is useful for indigestion, loss of appetite, diarrhea, dropsy, amenorrhoea, and dysmenorrhoea (R).
6) Black Cumin Seed Causes Weight Loss
Black Cumin seed is traditionally recommended as an anti-obesity agent (R).
Significant weight loss was seen in men with obesity. They also experienced a reduction in appetite (R).
7) Black Seed Protects the Gut
Black Cumin seed appears to have anti-ulcer properties against Heliobacter pylori (R).
Black Cumin seed and Thymoquinone could partly protect stomach mucosa in rats (from acute alcohol-induced mucosal injury) (R).
Black Cumin oil has significantly reduced the severity of intestinal damage in rats (with necrotizing colitis) (R).
8) Black Cumin Oil Potently Fights Infections
Antibacterial activity
Black Cumin seed extract inhibited the growth of Staphylococcus aureus (R).
Black Cumin seed was effective against clinical isolates of MRSA (methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus) (R).
Black Cumin seeds possess anti-H. pylori activity (R).
Gram-negative isolates were more affected than the Gram-positive ones (R).
Black Cumin oil (Thymoquinone) prevented the formation of “Biofilm” (R).
Anti-fungal activity
Black Cumin seed (Thymohydroquinone and Thymoquinone) possessed significant anti-fungal activity (R).
Methanolic extracts of Black Cumin seed have the strongest anti-fungal effect against Candida albicans (R).
Water extracts showed no anti-fungal activity (R).
The defensins (Ns-D1 and Ns-D2) displayed strong anti-fungal activity towards a number of phytopathogenic fungi (R).
Black Cumin oil is effective in protection against mold (aflatoxicosis) in rats (R). This may help people with Chronic Inflammatory Response Syndrome.
Black Cumin seed was able to reduce viral load in persons with Hepatitis C(R).
Black Cumin seed has shown antiviral properties against infectious laryngotracheitis virus (R).
It’s effective against cytomegalovirus virus (CMV) in mice (R).
Antiparasitic
Black Cumin seeds may be a good therapeutic agent against Plasmodium infection in malaria (R).
Black Cumin oil may play a role against the alterations caused by S. mansoni infection in mice (R).
Black Cumin seeds are effective against Schistosoma mansoni, miracidia, cercariae, and adult worms (R).
9) Black Seed Oil Fights Histamine Intolerance and CIRS
Black Cumin oil (Nigellone) has effective anti-histamine activity (R).
Black Cumin seed (Thymoquinone) appears to inhibit the release of histamine from Mast cells (R).
Black Cumin oil is also effective in protection against mold (aflatoxicosis) in rats (R). This may help people with Chronic Inflammatory Response Syndrome.
10) Black Seed Boosts the Immune System
Oral ingestion of Black Cumin seeds improves the ability of macrophages to destroy invaders (R).
Black Seed extract increased Natural Killer cell cytotoxicity to tumor cells (R).
Black Cumin seed was able to increase secretion of IL-3 from lymphocytes (R).
11) Anticancer Effects of Black Cumin Oil
Black Cumin oil exerts potent inhibitory effects on rat tumor development and cell proliferation (R).
Black Cumin seed and its constituents show a vital role in the control of cancer via inactivation and activation of phase I and II detox genes (R).
Liver Cancer
Black Cumin seed (Thymoquinone) was effective in treating liver cancer in rats (R).
Black Cumin oil (Thymoquinone) may be useful in treating cancer caused by chemicals and toxicity in liver cancer (R).
Bladder cancer
Black Cumin oil (Thymoquinone) has anti-tumor effects on bladder cancer (R).
Cervical cancer
Black Cumin seed (Thymoquinone) appears to be toxic towards cervical squamous carcinoma cells (SiHA) (R).
Bone cancer
Black Cumin seed (Thymoquinone) shows effective antitumor and anti-angiogenic activity in osteosarcoma (R).
Breast cancer
Black Cumin seed (Thymoquinone) may have potential implication in breast cancer prevention and treatment (R).
Black Cumin oil showed a protective role in mammary carcinoma (R).
Stomach cancer
Black Cumin seed (Thymoquinone) induces killing of stomach cancer cells (R).
12) Black Seed Can Protect Against Heart Disease
Black Cumin seed given to rats was able to improve the recovery of heart tissue following injury (ischemia/reperfusion) (R).
The seeds may be beneficial in the treatment of high cholesterol (R).
Seed powder administered to people with high cholesterol was found to reduce the total cholesterol and triglycerides (R).
Daily use of seed extract for 2 months may lower blood pressure in patients with mild Hypertension (HT) (R).
Black Cumin seed (Thymoquinone) reduced hardening of the arteries from high cholesterol (R).
13) Black Cumin Seed Increases Testosterone
Black Cumin seed extract has been noted to increase testosterone concentrations following oral ingestion (R).
Rats given seed oil failed to significantly increase testosterone (R).
14) Black Cumin Helps Asthma, Rhinitis, and Breathing
Boiled extract of the seeds was able to significantly improve all asthmatic symptoms (R).
Asthmatic symptoms have been improved in persons who suffer from allergic asthma (R).
Components of Black Cumin oil appear to have lung enhancing (bronchodilatory) properties (R).
Boiled extract of seeds was able to significantly improve respiratory function in chemical war victims with impaired respiratory function (R).
Black Cumin oil reduced symptoms of rhinitis (itching, running nose, sneezing, and congestion) (R).
15) Black Seed is Anti-Diabetic
Black Cumin seed is highly recommended among practitioners of traditional medicine for treating diabetes.
The seed extract was able to increase insulin release in diabetic rodents (R).
Black Cumin oil has a significant activity in diabetic and high cholesterol patients (R).
Most of the anti-diabetic properties are due to the activation of AMPK (R).
16) Black Cumin Seed is Neuroprotective
Thymoquinone and other components of Black cumin seed may be neuroprotective (R).
An extract of Black Cumin seed displayed neuroprotective effects by decreasing the activity of the nervous system (R).
17) Black Cumin Seed is a Natural Pain Killer
Black Cumin seeds appear to have analgesic properties in mice (R).
18) Thymoquinone Helps Osteoporosis and Arthritis
Black Cumin oil (Thymoquinone) has shown potential anti-osteoporotic effects (R).
Black Cumin seed (Thymoquinone) has been effective in rheumatoid arthritis(R).
Significant reductions in joint pain and swelling, as well as morning stiffness in affected joints, were noted (R).
19) Black Seed is Helpful For Eczema and Skin Conditions
Black Cumin oil is effective in the treatment of worms and skin eruptions (R).
Black Cumin oil has been used to treat skin conditions such as eczema and boils (R).
20) Black Seed Protects the Kidneys and Prevents Kidney Stones
Black Cumin seeds have been traditionally used for the treatment and prevention of kidney stones (R).
Evidence in rats suggests quite potent anti-kidney stone properties (R).
Black Cumin oil was effective against gentamycin kidney toxicity (R).
Seed extract had protective action against kidney injury (ischemia) (R).
21) Black Cumin Oil is an Antiseptic
Externally the Black cumin oil can prevent the spread of infections on the skin and also relieve pain (R).
22) Black Cumin Oil For Male Fertility
Black Cumin oil increased sperm motility, morphology and sperm concentration in mice (R).
Daily intake of 5 ml (1 tsp) of oil for two months improves abnormal semen quality in infertile men without any adverse effects (R).
23) Black Cumin Oil is Anti-Epileptic
Black Cumin oil (Thymoquinone) may have anticonvulsant action in pediatric epilepsy (R).
Black Cumin oil (Thymoquinone) has anti-epileptic effects in children following oral ingestion (R).
The anti-epileptic properties of Black cumin seeds appear to be due to increasing GABA (R).
24) Black Cumin Oil is Radio-Protective
Black Cumin oil is radioprotective against immunosuppressive and oxidative effects of ionizing radiation (R).
25) Black Seed is Effective in the Treatment of Opioid Dependence
Black Seed is effective in long-term treatment of opioid dependence (R).
It not merely cures the Opioid dependence but also helps with the infections and weaknesses from which majority of addicts suffer (R).
26) Black Cumin Helps Women Produce More Milk
Traditionally, it was used to help increase milk production during breastfeeding in nursing mothers (R).
It is scientifically proven that Black Cumin seeds stimulate milk production in rats (R).
27) Black Seed Suppresses Muscle Spasms
Black Seed has an antispasmodic effect (possibly due to calcium-antagonistic activity) (R).
Black Cumin Oil Synergies
Black Cumin seed (Thymoquinone) in combination with radiation was found to exert a synergistic cytotoxic effect against breast cancer cells (R).
Black Cumin seed (Thymoquinone) combined with gemcitabine reduced tumor weight to 85% (R).
Black Cumin seed extract (Thymoquinone) is known to reduce blood glucose when paired with Aloe vera (R).
Garlic Extract and Black cumin oil may be promising agents to complement schistosomiasis specific treatment (R).
Consumption of garlic extract and crude Black seeds may have a beneficial Antioxidant effect in healthy postmenopausal women (R).
Black Cumin and Garlic together were effective in correction of high cholesterol (R).
The combination of Black Cumin oil and PYR (Pyrimethamine) had a synergistic effect in the treatment of toxoplasmosis (R).
2 gm/day of Black Cumin seed may be beneficial along with hypoglycemic agents in type 2 diabetic patients (R).
Dosage
I use the oil and I recommend 1 tsp 2X daily for a 150-pound person.
Nutritional Value of Black Seed
Black Seed:
- Contains monosaccharides in the form of glucose, rhamnose, xylose, and arabinose (R).
- Contains a non-starch polysaccharide component which is a useful source of dietary fiber (R).
- Is rich in fatty acids particularly the unsaturated and essential fatty acids (Linolenic and Linoleic acid) (R).
- Contains Arginine which is essential for infant growth (R).
- Is also a source of Calcium, iron, sodium, and potassium (R).
- Contains Carotene (converted by the Liver into Vitamin A) (R).
- Contains B-complex vitamins like Thiamin, Niacin and Folic acid (R).
- Is a good source of Pyridoxine (Vitamin B6) (R).
Side Effects
According to internet folklore, over 25 grams is toxic to humans.
Black Cumin oil and its constituents show a vital effect in disease control without any toxic effect (R).
Treatment with Black Cumin oil (Thymoquinone) in advanced malignant cancer patients showed tolerated drug dose of up to 2600 mg/day (R).
Precautions
Black Cumin seed is said to lower blood sugar levels, therefore a diabetic patient is advised to consult a physician before using (R).
Molecular Targets
Anti-inflammatory
- Decreases LOX (Lysyl Oxidase) (R).
- Inhibits iNOS (inducible Nitric oxide synthase) (R).
- Inhibition of NF-κB (NF-kappa B) (R).
Anticancer property
- Activates PPAR-γ (Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma) (R).
- Increases PTEN (Phosphatase and tensin homolog) (R).
- Increases BAK/BAX (R).
- Decreases Bcl-2 and Bcl-xL (R).
- Suppresses the expression of AR and E2F-1 (R).
Antioxidant activity
- Increases the activity of Myeloperoxidase, Glutathione-S-transferase, Adenosine deaminase (R).
- Increases enzymes like Superoxide dismutase (SOD), Catalase and Glutathione peroxidase (R).
Antidiabetic activity
Neuroprotective activity
- Increases GABA (Gama Amino Butyric Acid) activity (R).
Activity in Lungs and trachea
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