Originally posted on September 8, 2022 @ 8:44 pm
In this page you shall get full explanation of what black seed oil is and the amazing health benefits of black seed. All the information here are referenced to researches including the scientific approaches. Kindly read it across lines to get all the details you need.
What is Black Seed?
Table of Contents
Nigella sativa (Botanical Scientific Name); synonyms: Nigella truncata, Nigella indica, Nigella cretica; or Black Caraway, Black Cumin, Black Onion Seed, Black Seed, Fennel Flower, Gith, Kalonji, Love-in-a-Mist, Nigella, Nutmeg Flower, Nutmeg Plant, Onion Seed, Ragged Lady, Roman coriander, Small fennel (English) is a seed-producing plant that has been utilized for ages by numerous civilizations throughout the world to heal a variety of ailments in both humans and animals
Details and Occurrence of Black Seed
A tiny shrub of the Ranunculaceae botanical family, Nigella sativa L. (N. sativa) grows to a height of 20 to 90 cm. Compound leaves are made up of two or more distinct leaflets. Alternating leaves (there is one leaf per node along the stem). The leaf blade’s whole edge is present (has no teeth or lobes). Its flowers are rosaceous and come in white, yellow, pink, pastel blue, or purplish hues. It has tapering green leaves.
There are two or more ways to divide the flower evenly according to its symmetry (the flower is radially symmetrical). Five petals, sepals, or tepals make up the flower’s five sepals, petals, or tepals. Fusion of sepals and petals The sepals and petals are not combined. The fruit is dry and splits apart when ripe with a thickness of up to 1.2 mm; the number of stamens is 13 or more. A large number of small, dark-black seeds are present in the ripe fruit (capsule: 3–7 joined follicles).
See: Health Benefits of Golden Melon
The Mediterranean region, the Middle East, and India are likely the original home ranges of Nigella sativa. Ancient Hebrew, Greek, and Roman literature all make reference to the long-cultivated black cumin. It is grown in the former Soviet Union, East Africa, and the subtropical region spanning from Morocco to northern India and Bangladesh. It is primarily grown on a small scale for medical applications in Europe, North America, and South-East Asia.
Uses, Importance, and Health Benefits of Black Seed Oil
Numerous scientific research are being conducted to support the traditionally asserted applications of the little seeds of this species of medicinal plant, Habatu sauda, which has been regarded as one of the most revered nutrient-rich herbs in history worldwide.
The percentages of protein, fat, fiber, and total carbs were as follows: 20–85% for protein, 38.20% for fat (of which linoleic acid (64.6%) and palmitic acid (20.4%) represent the primary fatty acids), 7-94% for fiber, and 31.94% for total carbohydrates. Among the numerous amino acids found, cysteine and methionine were the major and minor amino acids, respectively, followed by glutamate, arginine, and aspartate.
Additionally, black cumin seeds are rich in iron, copper, zinc, phosphorus, calcium, niacin, folate, and thiamin. Numerous phytoconstituents, primarily alkaloids, saponins, sterols, and essential oils, have been identified in N. sativa through phytochemical investigations; however, the chemical identities of many of these components have not yet been established or biologically supported.
In a wide range of food preparations, including bread, yogurt, pickles, sauces, and salads, nigella sativa has been widely employed as a spice and flavoring agent. In the Arabian countries, Far East Asia, Europe, and Africa, black seed, sometimes known as black cumin or black seed, has long been used as a traditional cure.
The miracle Nigella sativa plant has also been referred to as, and was even called by the earliest herbalists, “The herb from heaven.” “Hold on to use this black seed, as it contains a treatment for every ailment except death,” was how the Prophet Mohammed (PBUH) had defined the black seed’s healing abilities.
The usage of nigella seeds has been advocated by renowned physician Avicenna, who lived in the 10th century and is known for his work “The Canon of Medicine,” to boost bodily vitality and aid in the recovery from exhaustion and dejection. Additionally mentioned in the Holy Bible for its medicinal benefits, nigella sativa is also referred to as melanthion by Hippocrates and Dioscorides.
These tiny black seeds have been used for more than 2,000 years as a folk remedy to heal conditions ranging from parasite infections to headaches. They are also utilized in food and cookery preparations. According to reports, King Tut’s tomb contained Nigella sativa.
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Today, Nigella sativa supplements are sold as black seed and can be found online and in health food stores. They are often sold as softgels containing black seed oil or capsules containing crushed black seed. Asthma, allergies, the flu, joint discomfort, and digestive issues are just a few of the conditions that the pills are advertised to help with.
Following extensive studies on animals, published findings from investigations into Nigella sativa’s potential as a complementary and alternative medicine have surfaced. As an illustration, the blood pressure-lowering properties of Nigella sativa include antioxidant, hypotensive, calcium channel blockage, and diuretic actions.
In a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled clinical trial involving 70 healthy people between the ages of 34 and 63, with systolic blood pressure ranging from 110 to 140 mm Hg and diastolic blood pressure ranging from 60 to 90 mm Hg (the American Heart Association defines the ideal range for blood pressure as below 120/80 mm Hg), its vasorelaxant effect was demonstrated.
The findings, which were reported in the December 2013 issue of Phytotherapy Research, showed that oral administration of 5 ml of Nigella sativa oil for eight weeks dramatically reduced systolic and diastolic blood pressure without causing any obvious side effects. Nigella sativa has the ability to reduce dyslipidemia when taken orally as a supplement.
A four-week clinical trial’s findings revealed that using Nigella sativa supplements could reduce triglyceride levels by 17%, LDL cholesterol by 8%, and total cholesterol by 5%. A Nigella sativa supplement’s use was linked in a two-month randomized trial of hyperlipidemia menopausal women to a 27% drop in LDL cholesterol, a 22% drop in triglycerides, and a 16% drop in total cholesterol, according to research published in the Journal of Translational Medicine.
HDL cholesterol levels showed a slight, statistically insignificant improvement, according to the study. Additionally, the scientists saw that the women’s lipid profiles returned to their pretreatment levels once they stopped taking the supplement. Apolipoprotein A-I, the main constituent of cardioprotective HDL cholesterol, is thought to be stimulated by Nigella sativa, which may account for its modest HDL-boosting effects. In a study of obese, inactive women, the International Journal of Preventive Medicine found that aerobic exercise and Nigella sativa administration had a synergistic effect on blood lipid profiles after eight weeks.
Researchers observed a 5% decline in total cholesterol, an 8% decline in triglycerides, a 5% decline in LDL cholesterol, and a 6% increase in HDL cholesterol. Researchers investigated the effects of three different dosages of Nigella sativa supplements on the lipid profiles of 94 people with type 2 diabetes in a 12-week trial that was published in the Journal of Family Community Medicine.
The doses were 1, 2, and 3 g/day. Comparing patients who took 2 g/day to those who took 1 g/day, the decreases in total cholesterol (up to 15%), LDL cholesterol (up to 17%), triglycerides (up to 22%), and elevations in HDL cholesterol (up to 6%) were noticeably greater in the 2 g/day group. The benefit of taking 3 g/day, however, was not considerably higher, according to the study. The phytosterols found in Nigella sativa may be responsible for the improvement in lipid profile brought on by Nigella sativa consumption.
Due to its medical and nutraceutical advantages in decreasing total cholesterol and low density lipoprotein levels, phytosterols—an essential component of the human diet—are attracting more attention. Researchers’ estimates of the total sterol content of black cumin seed oil ranged from 18 to 42 percent of the unsaponified substance. Campesterol, stigmasterol, -sitosterol, and 5-avenasterol were the principal sterols found.
Thymoquinone, the main bioactive component of Nigella sativa, has been studied in vitro by researchers who have discovered that it has the ability to induce apoptosis (programmed cell death) and slow the metastasis (spreading) of cancer cells in a variety of cancer types, including breast cancer, glioblastoma, melanoma, squamous cell carcinoma, specific types of lymphoma, cervical cancer, In a recent in vitro study, it was discovered that Nigella sativa seed extract and seed oil significantly decreased the viability of human lung cancer cells, supporting the hypothesis that thymoquinone analogs can inhibit pancreatic cancer cell proliferation in vitro and increase cancer cells’ sensitivity to chemotherapy.
More investigations are required to ascertain the anticancer effects in vivo because they are in vitro studies. An oral Nigella sativa supplement may help individuals with type 2 diabetes better control their blood sugar levels, according to one study. Its potential as a functional food to treat diabetes and its associated comorbidities was demonstrated by the findings of a recent animal study that revealed Nigella sativa supplements can lower blood glucose levels and enhance serum lipid profiles. In a study of menopausal women, researchers also looked into Nigella sativa’s hypoglycemic effects.
In comparison to placebo, they found that taking 1 g/day of Nigella sativa seed powder in capsule form for two months resulted in a significant drop in fasting blood glucose levels and an improvement in serum lipid profiles. Human research are strengthening the connection between Nigella sativa and better brain health after animal studies suggested a potential link in this regard.
One gram of Nigella sativa per day improved memory, cognition, and attention without causing any negative side effects, according to a study of 40 older people in good health. The researchers stressed the need for additional study into Nigella sativa’s potential to stop or reduce the progression of Alzheimer’s disease in light of their findings.
Hepatoprotection (liver protection), according to a research in the World Journal of Gastroenterology, is associated with Nigella sativa in hepatitis C patients. Researchers came to the conclusion that participants’ viral loads were reduced and Nigella sativa at 1,350 mg/day was safe.
Additionally, it was discovered that this dose helped hepatitis C patients with diabetes with regard to oxidative stress, clinical state, and glycemic management. A recent study on people with rheumatoid arthritis showed that Nigella sativa had positive, immune-modulating effects.
A 500-mg dose of Nigella sativa oil capsules twice daily was connected to a decline in disease activity and symptoms of swollen joints and morning stiffness, indicating Nigella sativa may be a feasible possible adjuvant medication for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis. The anti-inflammatory benefits of Nigella sativa on patients with allergic rhinitis were examined in a prospective, double-blind, placebo-controlled experiment.
According to the findings, it may lessen common symptoms including runny nose, sneezing, and nasal irritation and congestion. When the adverse effects of conventional allergy medications must be avoided, the researchers stated that this supplement may be used as a treatment for allergic rhinitis.
Strong antibacterial activity against gram positive (Staphylococcus aureus) and gram negative (Pseudomonas aeruginosa & Escherichia coli) species is said to be possessed by N. sativa. Similar to topical mupirocin, it exhibits synergistic effects with streptomycin and gentamycin while additive with spectinomycin, erythromycin, tobramycin, doxycycline, chloramphenicol, nalidixic acid, ampicillin, lincomycin, and co-trimoxazole.
It can combat a variety of multi-drug resistant gram positive and gram negative bacteria, as well as other resistant microbes. It has been demonstrated that N. sativa increases natural killer (NK) cell activity in humans and improves the ratio of helper to suppressor T cells (T4 to T8).
In any case, it has been demonstrated to be a potent inhibitor of murine CMV and the HIV protease. In the latter instance, it was discovered that interferon-gamma (INF-) production led to an increase in M-phi and CD4+ve T cell numbers and functionality.
It has been demonstrated that N. sativa has potential against Schistosoma mansoni, Cercariae, Leishmaniasis, and Miracidia. When used in conjunction with prazequantel, a well-known anti-schistosomal and anthelmintic medication for domestic animals, the oil of the black seed shown great activity in the latter scenario.
Side Effects of Black Seed Oil
The side effects of black seed oil are quite uncommon. While others may have nausea, stomach discomfort, vomiting, and allergy-related itching. People who suffer from epilepsy shouldn’t take black seed oil because it makes their seizures worse.
It is noteworthy that a 62-year-old diabetic woman who took 2-2.5g of black seed oil daily eventually had kidney failure. In the history of medicine, this is the sole reported and verified case. Black seed oil should be used with extreme caution or, if possible, avoided by anyone with diabetes or kidney issues. Patients with kidney problems or diabetes should take very low doses at best.
Major References
- Thymoquinone decreases the spread of melanoma cells by inhibiting the NLRP3 inflammasome, according to Ahmad I, Muneer KM, Tamimi IA, Chang ME, Ata MO, and Yusuf N. 2013;270(1):70-76.
- Toxicol Appl Pharmacol Nigella sativa seeds’ impact on patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus’ ability to control their blood sugar levels was studied by Bamosa AO, Kaatabi H, Lebdaa FM, Elq AM, and Al-Sultanb A. Indian Journal of Physiolopharmacology. 2010; 54(4):344-354 ” (Eshemokha, 2020)
Thanks for the update