Popular Herbal Medicine

Nigella sativa is an annual flowering plant, native to south and southwest Asia. It grows to 20–30 cm (7.9–12 in) tall, with finely divided, linear (but not thread-like) leaves. The flowers are delicate, and typically colored pale blue and white, with 5 to 10 petals. The fruit may be a massive and inflated capsule composed of 3 to seven united follicles, every containing various seeds. The seed is employed as a spice.
In English, Nigella sativa seed is variously known as fennel flower, nutmeg flower, Roman coriander, blackseed or black caraway. alternative names used, generally misleadingly, are onion seed and black sesame, each of that are similar-looking, however unrelated.



The seeds are frequently mentioned as black cumin (as in Assamese: kaljeera or kolajeera or Bengali kalo jeeray), In south Indian language Kannada it's known as “Krishna Jeerige”, however this is often conjointly used for a unique spice, Bunium persicum. Original black cumin seed is Carum bulbocastanum.

In English-speaking countries with massive immigrant populations, it's conjointly variously referred to as kaljeera (Assamese কালজীৰা kalzira or ক’লাজীৰা kolazira), kalo jira (Bengali: কালোজিরা kalojira, black cumin), karum cheerakam (Tamil கருஞ்சீரகம்), kalonji (Hindi/Urdu कलौंजी kalauṃjī or كلونجى/कलोंजी kaloṃjī) or mangrail (Hindi मंगरैल maṃgarail), ketzakh (Hebrew קצח), chernushka (Russian), çörek otu (Turkish), habbat al-barakah (Arabic حبه البركة ḥabbat al-barakah, seed of blessing), siyah daneh (Persian سیاه‌دانه siyâh dâne), jintan hitam (Indonesian), karim jeerakam in Malayalam or කළු දුරු in Sinhala, Karto Jeera in (Beary Language).
A commercial pack of kalonji

It is used as a part of the spice mixture paanch phoran or panch phoron (meaning a mix of 5 spices) and by itself during a nice several recipes in Bengali cookery and most recognizably in naan bread.

The Turkish name çörek otu literally suggests that “bun’s herb” from its use in flavouring the çörek buns. Such braided-dough buns are widespread within the cuisines of Turkey and its neighbors (see Tsoureki τσουρέκι). In Bosnian, the Turkish name for Nigella sativa is respelled as čurekot. The seed is employed in Bosnia, and significantly its capital Sarajevo, to flavour pastries (Bosnian: somun) typically baked on Muslim non secular holidays.

Nigella sativa features a pungent bitter style and smell. it's used primarily in confectionery and liquors. Peshawari naan is, as a rule, topped with kalonji seeds.

According to Zohary and Hopf, archeological proof concerning the earliest cultivation of N. sativa “is still scanty”, however they report supposed N. sativa seeds are found in many sites from ancient Egypt, together with Tutankhamun’s tomb.[4] though its precise role in Egyptian culture is unknown, it's known that things entombed with a pharaoh were rigorously selected to help him within the afterlife.

The earliest written reference to N. sativa is assumed to be within the book of Isaiah within the previous Testament, where the reaping of nigella and wheat is contrasted (Isaiah 28: twenty five, 27). Easton’s Bible dictionary states the Hebrew word ketsah refers to N. sativa doubtless (although not all translations are in agreement). in step with Zohary and Hopf, N. sativa was another ancient condiment of the previous World throughout classical times; and its black seeds were extensively used to flavor food.

In Islam, it's considered one among the best styles of healing drugs on the market. within the Unani Tibb system of drugs, black cumin is considered a valuable remedy for variety of diseases. Sayings of Mohammed clearly underline the importance of Nigella sativa. in step with a hadith narrated by Abu Hurerah, he says, “I have heard Hazrat Muhammad saying that the black granules (kalonji) is that the remedy for all diseases except death.”

The seeds are historically employed in the center East and Southeast Asian countries to treat ailments together with asthma, bronchitis, rheumatism and connected inflammatory diseases, to extend milk production in nursing mothers, to push digestion and to fight parasitic infections. Its several uses have earned black cumin seed the Arabic approbation Habbatul barakah, which means the “seed of blessing”.

Its oil has been used to treat skin conditions, like eczema and boils, and to treat cold symptoms. several researchers have recently conjointly studied its reaction towards cancer, and it's said to own several anticancer properties.[
Black cumin

Original black cumin (Carum bulbocastanum) isn't on the market, so N. sativa is widely used instead; (in India, Carum carvi is that the substitute). Cumins are from Apiaceae or Umbelliferae (both names are allowed by the ICBN) family, but N. sativa is from Ranunculaceae family. Black cumin (not N. sativa) seeds return as paired or separate carpels, and are 3-4mm long. they need a striped pattern of 9 ridges and oil canals, and are fragrant (Ayurveda says, "Kaala jaaji sugandhaa cha" (black cumin seed is fragrant itself), blackish in color, boat-shaped, and tapering at every extremity, with small stalks attached; it's been used for medicinal functions for hundreds of years, each as a herb and pressed into oil, in Asia, the center East, and Africa. it's been historically used for a spread of conditions and coverings associated with respiratory health, abdomen and intestinal health, kidney and liver operate, circulatory and immune system support, as analgesic, anti-inflammatory, antiallergic, antioxidants, anticancer, antiviral and for general well-being.
[edit] Scientific analysis

Nigella sativa oil (not black cumin seed oil) contains nigellone, that protects guinea pigs from histamine-induced bronchial spasms (perhaps explaining its use to alleviate the symptoms of asthma, bronchitis, and coughing).

The presence of an antitumor sterol, beta-sitosterol, lends credence to its ancient use to treat abscesses and tumors of the abdomen, eyes, and liver.

N. sativa oil has been reported to be effective in treating opioid dependence.

N. sativa conjointly has been reported to scale back calculi formation in rats’ kidneys.

The oil contains melanthin, nigilline, damascene and tannin. Melanthin is toxic in massive doses and nigelline is paralytic, therefore this spice should be employed in moderation.
[edit] Thymoquinone and pancreatic cancer treatment

Researchers at the Kimmel Cancer Center at Thomas Jefferson University in Philadelphia have found that thymoquinone, an extract of N. sativa seed oil, blocked pancreatic cancer cell growth and killed the cells by enhancing the method of programmed cell death, (apoptosis), acting as an HDAC inhibitor. whereas the studies are within the early stages, the findings recommend thymoquinone might eventually have some use as a preventative strategy in patients who have skillful surgery and chemotherapy or in people who are at a high risk of developing cancer.
[edit] Patents

Nigella Sativa currently has 5 (5) FDA separate patents within the U.S. and one (1) within the UK for the treatment of:

1. Diabetes (US six,042,834)
2. Inhibition of cancer cell growth (US five,653,981)
3. Improvement of the Immune System (US five,482,711)
4. Viral Infections (US six,841,174)
5. Psoriasis (US six,531,164)
6. Asthma (UK – EP1709995)