Black seed—also known by its scientific name, Nigella sativa—is a small seed that comes from a flowering plant by the same name.
As an annual flowering plant, it is native to parts of Africa, India, Asia and the Mediterranean. It is also known as black cummin.
While the tiny seed is sometimes used as a spice in Middle Eastern and Indian cuisine—providing flavors to breads, proteins, and other dishes—it is more widely known for its medicinal properties. The seed has been used directly, or crushed for oil orpoweder, for over 2000 years.
This plant has been mentioned in the written traditional medicinal texts of major civilizations like the Ayurveda, Siddha, Unani, Greek-Roman, Malay, Tibb-e-Nabwi, and Jewish texts.
Black seed/black cummin has been extensively used as medicines in all Abrahamic cultures. In the Bible, black cummin is mentioned in the book of Isaiah—a volume written between 739 and 681 B.C.
Going back even further, to the ancient Egyptian civilization, black seed was discovered in the tomb of King Tut, who was buried in 1323 B.C.
Across these numerous cultures black seed was used for the treatment of skin, liver, lung, kidney and psychological disorders. It was also used to treat gastrointestinal and respiratory disorders.
Modern research on Nigella sativa has revealed that the tiny black seeds do, indeed, provide a broad spectrum of pharmacological properties.
According to the book Black Seeds Pharmacological and Therapeutic Applications, the long list of medicinal properties include “anti-microbial, anti-inflammatory, anti-diabetic, analgesic, spasmolytic, reproprotection, hepatoprotection, bronchodilaton, nephroprotection, and even contraception benefits.”
Because of the worldwide coverage, historical uses and extensive research, black seed has received much more favorable coverage than many other medicinal herbs.
It has been placed among the top ranked evidence-based medicines by pharmacologists and medical practitioners. And while in the United States you may only find black seed oil at a health food store or pharmacy, in many countries of world you are just as likely to receive a prescription for black seed oil when visiting a doctor.
The antioxidant thymoquinone is the main bioactive compound of Nigella sativa, and is thought to be responsible for many of the herb’s potential health benefits. However, black seeds contain numerous other active ingredients: vitamins and minerals, dietary fiber, amino acids, cholesterol-lowering phytosterols, and more.
Black seed oil & Covid-19
During the Covid-19 pandemic a randomized controlled trial found Covid patients who received a combination of honey and black seed oil recovered more quickly than those given a placebo.
The study was conducted in Pakistan, where black seed oil is widely used as a medicinal.
The treatment with Nigella sativa (black seed) and honey was found to alleviate Covid symptoms in an average of six days, compared to 13 days for those in the control group.
Full study details are available at MedRx.org here.
;Black seeds contain about 21% protein, 32% carbohydrates, and 38%-45% lipids.
Although black seed has been studied in depth relative to the traditional medicinal benefits, recent studies have provided promising evidence that black seed may be helpful in keeping cholesterol and triglyceride levels in check.
Exploring new benefit
Because of its high antioxidant content, black seed helps prevent LDL from being oxidized. In addition, the polyunsaturated fats, fiber, and phytosterols all appear to provide a lipid-lowering effect.
A study published in March 2024 by the European Society for Clinical Nutrition & Metabolism reinforced earlier studies highlighting this effect.
The new study, a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials, found that supplementation with Nigella sativa improved blood lipids to a considerable degree.
Blood lipid levels—including total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, HDL cholesterol, and triglycerides—are the indicators monitored to assess heart disease risk. Improvements in these cholesterol parameters is hugely beneficial for heart health and hypertension.
A reduction is triglycerides, for example, is beneficial because high triglycerides contribute to hardening of the arteries or thickening of the artery walls. This condition—known as arteriosclerosis—increases the risk of stroke, heart attack and heart disease.
Study details
The meta-analysis included 34 randomized controlled trials. Eighteen of the trials were conducted in Iran; seven were conducted in Pakistan; three were conducted in Malaysia; two were conducted in Bangladesh; and one trial each was conducted in Indonesia, France, Egypt and India.
The 34 trials encompassed a total of 2,278 men and women. The researchers culled their data from Scopus, PubMed, Cochrane, and Web of Science databases through December 2022. The meta-analysis included participants with known medical conditions, as well as participants without known health conditions.
The daily dose of black seed oil ranged from 100 mg to 8,000 mg, with test subjects being compared to placebo groups. The intervention duration ranged from three to 24 weeks.
Findings
The researchers determined that supplementation with N. sativa substantially improved (i.e., reduced) total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol and triglycerides. In addition, black seed oil also improved (i.e., increased) HDL cholesterol.
The researchers noted that a limitation of the meta-analysis was that subgroup analyses were not conducted according to the dose of supplementation, and that the dose widely varied between studies. However, even though it’s unclear what the most effective dose of N. sativa is for improving blood lipids, it appears almost any dose is beneficial to one degree or another.
The research was published online at Clinical Nutrition ESPEN in March 2024.
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You can find black seed oil in Opti Black Seed Pearls from Optimal Health Systems. Click the banner ad on this page to learn more.
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Sources: Clinical Nutrition ESPEN, Black Seeds Pharmacological and Therapeutic Applications (via ScienceDirect.com).