Nigella sativa

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Nigella sativa

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Nigella sativa

Common Names

  • Black cumin
  • Black caraway
  • Black seed
  • Kalonji

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For Patients & Caregivers

How It Works

Black cumin seed has not been shown to treat cancer in humans.

Black cumin seed is used for cooking and in traditional medicine in India, Arabia, and Europe. Laboratory studies have shown that some components have antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects. Small clinical suggest that black cumin seed may help to control high blood pressure, asthma, diabetes, and rheumatoid arthritis.

Purported Uses
  • To treat cancer Animal studies have shown that black cumin seed can stop the growth of tumor cells and reduce the incidence of tumors. However, the effects in humans are unclear.
  • To protect the body from the adverse effect of radiation therapy Topical application of an N. sativa gel decreased the severity of acute radiation dermatitis in breast cancer patients.
  • To decrease hypertension Small studies suggest benefits in lowering hypertension.
  • To decrease symptoms of asthma Studies show that black cumin seed may help to prevent asthmatic symptoms.
  • To treatment rheumatoid arthritis One study shows black cumin seed oil when taken orally, can help reduce symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis
  • To treat diabetes Small studies show benefits of black cumin seed in patients with diabetes.
Do Not Take If
  • You are taking cytochrome P450 substrate drugs: Nigella sativa may increase the risk of side effects of these drugs. Clinical relevance is not known.
Side Effects
  • Topical use of pure N. sativa oil caused allergic reactions.  
  • High doses of Nigella sativa caused liver and kidney damage in rats. Human data are lacking.
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For Healthcare Professionals

Scientific Name
Nigella sativa
Clinical Summary

Nigella sativa is a flowering plant found throughout India, Arabia, and Europe. The seeds, commonly known as black seeds or black cumin, are used in cooking and in traditional medicine to reduce inflammation, as well as to treat infections and cancer.

Constituents from N. sativa demonstrated immunomodulatory (1) (2) (11), antioxidant (15), antiparasitic (13) and hepatoprotective effects (14)in preclinical studies. Findings from small clinical trials suggest benefits of seed extracts for the treatment of asthma (21), allergic diseases (12), rheumatoid arthritis (26), dyspepsia (27) (31), diabetes (28), and for ameliorating hepatic steatosis and insulin resistance in patients with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (32). But data on anti-hypertensive effects are conflicting (22) (33). Thymoquinone, a major constituent of N. sativa, conferred antiepileptic effects in children with refractory seizures (23). Further, topical use of N. sativa oil has been shown to alleviate cyclical mastalgia (34); and to relieve osteoarthritic knee pain in older individuals (35), but oral intake of N. sativa seed powder did not have similar benefit (36).

Evidence also suggests that N. sativa has anticancer properties. Thymoquinone and other constituents reduced the growth and size of tumors in murine models (4) (5) (6) (7) (8) (9). Thymoquinone also enhanced the anticancer effects of doxorubicin in certain cancer cell lines (25). N. sativa oil, when injected, conferred protection against radiation-induced tissue damage in a murine model (15).
In small clinical studies, oral intake of N. sativa seeds lowered the incidence of febrile neutropenia and length of hospital stay in children with brain tumors (37); and topical application of an N. sativa gel decreased the severity of acute radiation dermatitis in breast cancer patients (38). Larger studies are needed to confirm these observations.

Purported Uses
  • Cancer
  • Radiation therapy side effects
  • Hypertension
  • Asthma
  • Rheumatoid arthritis
  • Diabetes
Mechanism of Action

Thymoquinone, one of the chief constituents of N. sativa oil has antioxidant effects and restored the levels of lactate dehydrogenase, glutathione, and SOD in animal models (6) (7) (9). This may also explain its hepatoprotective effects (3) (4). Studies have also shown that N. sativa oil exerts anti-inflammatory properties by inhibiting cyclooxygenase and lipoxygenase (18). Nigellone, a constituent of the crude seed extract, inhibited histamine release from rat peritoneal mast cells (10) and may reduce allergy symptoms in humans (12). N. sativa also decreased hypertension in rats likely via its diuretic effects (5), and decreased uterine smooth muscle contractions (14).

The antioxidant effects of nigella are thought to protect tissues from radiation injury (15). However, it is not clear if this would also make radiation therapy less effective. Possible antitumor mechanisms of thymoquinone include inhibition of DNA synthesis (7), and promotion of apoptosis by inhibiting cell growth in G1 phase (8). A methanol extract of N. sativa exhibited in vitro estrogenic activity following naringinase treatment (30).

Adverse Reactions
  • Topical use of pure oil of N. sativa caused allergic contact dermatitis in 2 people with maculopapular eczema (19).  
  • The fixed oil of N. sativa orally administered to rats for up to 12 weeks did not produce any significant changes in hepatic enzymes, and did not affect mortality (16). However, high doses may cause liver damage (29). Human data are lacking.
Herb-Drug Interactions
  • Cytochrome P450 substrates: Nigella sativa inhibits CYP2D6 and CYP3A4 and can affect the intracellular concentration of drugs metabolized by these enzymes (24). Clinical relevance is not known.
Herb Lab Interactions

In murine models, Nigella sativa oil decreased serum glucose, triglyceride, cholesterol levels, and leukocyte and platelet counts, but there was an increase in hematocrit and hemoglobin levels (16) (20).

References
  1. Haq A, Lobo PI, Al-Tufail M, et al. Immunomodulatory effect of Nigella sativa proteins fractionated by ion exchange chromatography. Int J Immunopharmacol 1999;21(4):283-95.
  2. Haq A, Abdulatif M, Lobo PI, et al. Nigella sativa: effect on human lymphocytes and polymorphonuclear leukocyte phagocytic activity. Immunopharmacology 1995;30(2):147-55.
  3. Ali BH and Blunden G. Pharmacological and toxicological properties of Nigella sativa. Phytother Res 2003;17(4):299-305.
  4. Dada MH and Abdel-Rahman MS. Hepatoprotective activity of thymoquinone in isolated rat hepatocytes.Toxicol Lett 1998. 95(1): p. 23-9.
  5. El Tahir KE, Ashour MM, al-Harbi MM. The cardiovascular actions of the volatile oil of the black seed (Nigella sativa) in rats: elucidation of the mechanism of action.Gen Pharmacol 1993;24(5):1123-31.
  6. El-Abhar HS, Abdallah DM, Saleh S. Gastroprotective activity of Nigella sativa oil and its constituent, thymoquinone, against gastric mucosal injury induced by ischaemia/reperfusion in rats. J Ethnopharmacol 2003;84(2-3):251-8.
  7. Badary OA, et al. Inhibition of benzo(a)pyrene-induced forestomach carcinogenesis in mice by thymoquinone. Eur J Cancer Prev 1999;8(5):435-40.
  8. Gali-Muhtasib H, Diab-Assaf M, Boltze C, et al. Thymoquinone extracted from black seed triggers apoptotic cell death in human colorectal cancer cells via a p53-dependent mechanism. Int J Oncol 2004;25(4): 857-66.
  9. Ait Mbarek L, et al. Anti-tumor properties of blackseed (Nigella sativa L.) extracts. Braz J Med Biol Res 2007;40(6):839-47.
  10. Chakravarty N. Inhibition of histamine release from mast cells by nigellone. Ann Allergy 1993;70(3):237-42.
  11. Islam SN, Begum P, Ahsan T, et al. Immunosuppressive and cytotoxic properties of Nigella sativa. Phytother Res 2004;18(5):395-8.
  12. Kalus U, Pruss A, Bystron J, et al. Effect of Nigella sativa (black seed) on subjective feeling in patients with allergic diseases. Phytother Res 2003;17(10):1209-14.
  13. Mohamed AM, Metwally NM, Mahmoud SS. Sativa seeds against Schistosoma mansoni different stages.Mem Inst Oswaldo Cruz 2005;100(2):205-11.
  14. Iddamaldeniya SS, Thabrew MI, Wickramasinghe SM, et al. A long-term investigation of the anti-hepatocarcinogenic potential of an indigenous medicine comprised of Nigella sativa, Hemidesmus indicus and Smilax glabra. J Carcinog 2006;11.
  15. Cemek M, Enginar H, Karaca T, Unak P. In vivo radioprotective effects of Nigella sativa L oil and reduced glutathione against irradiation-induced oxidative injury and number of peripheral blood lymphocytes in rats.Photochem Photobiol 2006;82(6):1691-6.
  16. Zaoui A, Cherrah Y, Alaoui K, et al. Effects of Nigella sativa fixed oil on blood homeostasis in rat. J Ethnopharmacol 2002;79(1):23-6.
  17. Ghosheh OA, Houdi AA, Crooks PA. High performance liquid chromatographic analysis of the pharmacologically active quinones and related compounds in the oil of the black seed (Nigella sativa L.). J Pharm Biomed Anal 1999;19(5):757-62.
  18. Houghton PJ, Zarka R, de las Heras B, Hoult JR. Fixed oil of Nigella sativa and derived thymoquinone inhibit eicosanoid generation in leukocytes and membrane lipid peroxidation. Planta Med 1995;61(1):33-6.
  19. Steinmann A, Schatzle M, Agathos M, Breit R. Allergic contact dermatitis from black cumin (Nigella sativa) oil after topical use. Contact Dermatitis 1997;36(5):268-9.
  20. Zaoui A, Cherrah Y, Mahassini N, et al. Acute and chronic toxicity of Nigella sativa fixed oil. Phytomedicine 2002;9(1):69-74.
  21. Boskabady MH, Javan H, Sajady M, Rakhshandeh H. The possible prophylactic effect of Nigella sativa seed extract in asthmatic patients. Fundam Clin Pharmacol. 2007 Oct;21(5):559-66.
  22. Dehkordi FR, Kamkhah AF. Antihypertensive effect of Nigella sativa seed extract in patients with mild hypertension. Fundam Clin Pharmacol. 2008 Aug;22(4):447-52.
  23. Akhondian J, Kianifar H, Raoofziaee M, et al. The effect of thymoquinone on intractable pediatric seizures (pilot study). Epilepsy Res. 2011 Jan;93(1):39-43.
  24. Al-Jenoobi FI, Al-Thukair AA, Abbas FA, et al. Effect of black seed on dextromethorphan O- and N-demethylation in human liver microsomes and healthy human subjects. Drug Metab Lett. 2010 Jan;4(1):51-5.
  25. Effenberger-Neidnicht K, Schobert R. Combinatorial effects of thymoquinone on the anti-cancer activity of doxorubicin. Cancer Chemother Pharmacol. 2011 Apr;67(4):867-74.
  26. Gheita TA, Kenawy SA. Effectiveness of Nigella sativa oil in the management of rheumatoid arthritis patients: a placebo controlled study. Phytother Res. 2012 Aug;26(8):1246-8.
  27. Salem EM, Yar T, Bamosa AO, et al. Comparative study of Nigella Sativa and triple therapy in eradication of Helicobacter Pylori in patients with non-ulcer dyspepsia. Saudi J Gastroenterol. 2010 Jul-Sep;16(3):207-14.
  28. Bamosa AO, Kaatabi H, Lebdaa FM, et al. Effect of Nigella sativa seeds on the glycemic control of patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus. Indian J Physiol Pharmacol. 2010 Oct-Dec;54(4):344-54.
  29. Khader M1, Bresgen N, Eckl PM. In vitro toxicological properties of thymoquinone. Food Chem Toxicol. 2009 Jan;47(1):129-33. doi: 10.1016/j.fct.2008.10.019.
  30. El-Halawany AM, El Dine RS, Chung MH, et al. Screening for estrogenic and antiestrogenic activities of plants growing in Egypt and Thailand. Pharmacognosy Res. 2011 Apr;3(2):107-13. doi: 10.4103/0974-8490.81958.
  31. Mohtashami R, Huseini HF, Heydari M, et al. Efficacy and safety of honey based formulation of Nigella sativa seed oil in functional dyspepsia: A double blind randomized controlled clinical trial. J Ethnopharmacol. 2015 Dec 4;175:147-52.
  32. Darand M, Darabi Z, Yari Z, et al. The effects of black seed supplementation on cardiovascular risk factors in patients with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease: A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial. Phytother Res. 2019 Sep;33(9):2369-2377.
  33. Rizka A, Setiati S, Lydia A, Dewiasty E. Effect of Nigella sativa Seed Extract for Hypertension in Elderly: a Double-blind, Randomized Controlled Trial. Acta Med Indones. 2017 Oct;49(4):307-313.
  34. Huseini HF, Kianbakht S, Mirshamsi MH, Zarch AB. Effectiveness of Topical Nigella sativa Seed Oil in the Treatment of Cyclic Mastalgia: A Randomized, Triple-Blind, Active, and Placebo-Controlled Clinical Trial. Planta Med. 2016 Mar;82(4):285-8.
  35. Tuna HI, Babadag B, Ozkaraman A, Balci Alparslan G. Investigation of the effect of black cumin oil on pain in osteoarthritis geriatric individuals. Complement Ther Clin Pract. 2018 May;31:290-294.
  36. Salimzadeh A, Ghourchian A, Choopani R, et al. Effect of an orally formulated processed black cumin, from Iranian traditional medicine pharmacopoeia, in relieving symptoms of knee osteoarthritis: A prospective, randomized, double-blind and placebo-controlled clinical trial. Int J Rheum Dis. 2017 Jun;20(6):691-701.
  37. Mousa HFM, Abd-El-Fatah NK, Darwish OA, Shehata SF, Fadel SH. Effect of Nigella sativa seed administration on prevention of febrile neutropenia during chemotherapy among children with brain tumors. Childs Nerv Syst. 2017 May;33(5):793-800.
  38. Rafati M, Ghasemi A, Saeedi M, et al. Nigella sativa L. for prevention of acute radiation dermatitis in breast cancer: A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, clinical trial. Complement Ther Med. 2019 Dec;47:102205.
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