Black cumin seeds are the seeds from Nigella sativa (Ranunculaceae), an
annual flowering plant native to southwest Asia. Traditionally, the seeds or the oil from
them have been used for a range of health problems, particularly diabetes, digestive
diseases, arthritis, and asthma, as well as a food additive and spice. Laboratory studies
have shown that the seeds of N. sativa have anti-diabetic, anti-hyperlipidemic,
anticonvulsant, anti-microbial, anti-hypertensive, anti-asthmatic and anti-cancer
activities. It has also been proven to possess analgesic and wound healing properties.
These seeds are also of clinical interest, especially for metabolic disorders, as they have
the ability to reduce fat body contents and have beneficial effects on hypertension and
diabetes. In addition, many clinical trials are ongoing to investigate the effects of black
cumin seeds for the treatment of infertility, cancer, asthma, non-alcoholic fatty liver
disease (NAFLD), and arthritis rheumatoid. The mode of action of black cumin seeds is
mostly mediated via anti-oxidant, immunomodulatory, cytoprotective and antiinflammatory
mechanisms. The most important bioactive constituents of black cumin
seeds are essential oils, including thymoquinone and alkaloids, including pyrazole
alkaloids such as nigellidine and nigellicine, and isoquinoline alkaloids such as
nigellimine-N-oxide. The aim of the current chapter is to review the chemical,
botanical, and pharmacological studies as well as the clinical potential of black cumin
seeds.
Keywords: Asthma, Black cumin seeds, Metabolic syndrome, Nigella sativa,
Ranunculaceae, Thymoquinone.
