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A Review of Medicinal Uses and Pharmacological Activities of Nigella sativa
Abstract
Nigella sativa seeds (Kalonji) have been widely used in traditional medicine as diuretic, antihypertensive liver tonic, digestive, antidiarrheal, appetite stimulant, emmenagogue, analgesic, anthelmintic, antibacterial and useful in skin disorders. Consequently, Kalonji has been extensively studied for its biological activities and has been shown to be antidiabetic, anticancer and immunomodulator, analgesic, antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, spasmolytic, bronchodilator, hepatoprotective, antihypertensive, renal protective and antioxidant properties
... 35 • N. sativa has effect on dyslipidemia, and hyperglycemia so it has protective activity on cardiovascular system. 36,37 • N. sativa seed extract could be a supplement, as an antioxidant therapy and may be beneficial for correcting hyperglycemia and preventing diabetic complications due to lipid peroxidation and free radical oxidants. 37,38 • N. sativa and Thymoquinone produce significant hypoglycemic in albino rats. ...
... 36,37 • N. sativa seed extract could be a supplement, as an antioxidant therapy and may be beneficial for correcting hyperglycemia and preventing diabetic complications due to lipid peroxidation and free radical oxidants. 37,38 • N. sativa and Thymoquinone produce significant hypoglycemic in albino rats. 39 Kalonji may contribute to the discovery of new therapeutic strategies for above said diseases. ...
... Essential oil showed Antibacterial activity against Bacillus pumilus, staphylococcus lutea and vibrio cholera.Antifungal activity against Aspergillus species and Curvularia lunata.40 • Thymoqunone and Thymohydroqunone have inhibitory and lethal effects against both Grampositive and Gram-negative bacteria and when combined with antibiotics they may exert synergistic activity.36,37,41 • Long term use of Nigella sativa increase effect on fertility and reproductive system in adult male rat.42 • N. sativa is an effective in opioid dependence; it treated the opioid withdrawal syndrome.43 ...
For thousands of years, the seeds, oils, extracts and whole plant
whole of. Kalonji (Nigella sativa) has been used as an anticancer
agent by Unani, Ayurveda and the Chinese system of medicine that has originated from the Arab, India, Bangladesh and China,
respectively. Unani literature is full of indications of Kalonji for
numerous diseases; Especially Arabian Authors wrote and
advocates Kalonji has been used as traditional medicine for
centuries. The NS is effective against many diseases like cancer,
cardiovascular complications, diabetes, asthma, kidney disease etc. Although the various medicinal activity of Kalonji was recognized thousands of years ago proper scientific research on this important unani medicine is a history of the last 2-3 decades. There are not so many research works done with this important traditional medicine and very few reports exist in the scientific database. In this manuscript, we have summarized the actions of Kalonji against different diseases described in Unani (Greeco-Arabic) medicine.
... Providing shearing resulted in reducing the adverse effects of heat stress in summer and in turn improved the metabolic media of shorn lambs to increase their productivity. In addition, providing shearing resulted in alleviating the burden of summer heat stress and consequently improved the heat tolerance of lambs raised under semi arid conditions of the desert and resulted in reducing the adverse effects of heat stress in summer and in turn improved the metabolic media of shorn lambs to increase their levels in total proteins, globulin, T 4 ...
... Moreover, the increase in T 4 in the treated calves stimulates the protein synthesis by a decrease of the proteolytic action of glucocorticoids or an increase of the glucose transport to provide energy required for peptide synthesis . However, although diet supplementation with urea, minerals and vitamins improved the gain, especially solids gain and feed efficiency, the heat load on the animals did not seem to have been completely alleviated, since transaminase enzyme activities, as well as, rectal temperature were higher in supplemented group than in the control The antioxidant activity is high in medicinal plants and antioxidants play an important role in inhibiting and scavenging radicals which providing protection to humans against infectious and degenerative diseases (Anwar et al., 2004). Some medicinal plant extracts and pure forms of active compounds were evaluated for their potential application as modifiers of rumen microbial fermentation to produce VFA which represent the main supply of metabolizable energy for ruminant (Busquet et al., 2005). ...
... It is native to the eastern Mediterranean, northern Africa, the Indian subcontinent, and Southwest Asia. Black cumin has been recommended in traditional medicine for a variety of illnesses and conditions, including asthma, cough, eczema, anorexia, amenorrhea, arthritis, toothache, backache, diabetes, high blood pressure, dizziness, paralysis, chronic headache, inflammation, infertility, and other gastrointestinal disorders like diarrhea, flatulence, dyspepsia, and dysentery to name a few [1][2][3]. Traditional uses of N. Sativa seeds are largely attributed to their extensive medicinal properties, including anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, immunomodulatory, cardioprotective, antihypertensive, antidiabetic, gastroprotective, anticancer, neuroprotective, antimicrobial, and hepatoprotective properties [4]. ...
... Inside the reddish-brown walls, the endosperm comprises thin-walled cells with oil globules [7]. pressure, dizziness, paralysis, chronic headache, inflammation, infertility, and ot trointestinal disorders like diarrhea, flatulence, dyspepsia, and dysentery to nam [1][2][3]. Traditional uses of N. Sativa seeds are largely attributed to their extensive m properties, including anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, immunomodulatory, cardi tive, antihypertensive, antidiabetic, gastroprotective, anticancer, neuroprotective crobial, and hepatoprotective properties [4]. ...
In several cultures, black cumin, also known as Nigella sativa, has long been used medicinally. Recent research has revealed that this plant has potent anti-inflammatory and antioxidant qualities, making it a possible treatment for several medical conditions. Additionally, because of its capacity to detoxify the liver and protect it from harm, Nigella sativa has demonstrated positive results as an antidote for poisoning. Consumption of hazardous substances by accident or planned poisoning are two prevalent causes of poisoning. The liver is the primary organ in detoxification. According to studies, Nigella sativa can help the liver operate better and defend it from toxins' harmful effects. Additionally, it has been demonstrated that Nigella sativa protects against heavy metal toxicity. Thymoquinone and thymohydroquinone, the plant's active components, have been demonstrated to bond with heavy metals and stop the body from absorbing them. Further studies are needed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of Nigella sativa as an antidote for poisoning cases. Nigella sativa presents an interesting natural alternative for treating poisoning cases, potentially complementing traditional medical approaches. The main goal of this review is to explore the potential application of Nigella sativa as an antidote for poisoning cases. The article discusses the plant's strong ability to detoxify and protect the liver. The review highlights preclinical studies that have shown promising results but also emphasizes the need for further clinical trials to determine the efficacy and safety of Nigella sativa as a natural alternative for treating poisoning cases.
... Avicenna (980-1037 AD), an ancient Muslim physician and philosopher, mentioned N. sativa in his famous "Canon of Medicine", which was part of the traditional medical curriculum from the 12th to the 17th centuries [58,59]. In his canon of medicine, Avicenna described the seeds as "the seed that enhances the energy production in the body and facilitates recovery from fatigue and dejection", weariness, fever, headache, skin ailments, wounds, fungus, parasites, and deadly animal attacks [59][60][61][62][63]. The principal constituents of N. sativa seeds are fixed oil-33.3%, ...
Abstract: Wound healing is a multifaceted process necessitating the collaboration of numerous elements to mend damaged tissue. Plant and animal-derived natural compounds have been uti-lized for wound treatment over the centuries, with many scientific investigations examining these compounds. Those with antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antibacterial properties are particu-larly noteworthy, as they target various wound-healing stages to expedite recovery. Thymoqui-none, derived from Nigella sativa (N. sativa)—a medicinal herb with a long history of use in tradi-tional medicine systems such as Unani, Ayurveda, Chinese, and Greco-Arabic and Islamic medi-cine—has demonstrated a range of therapeutic properties. Thymoquinone exhibits antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, and antineoplastic activities, positioning it as a potential remedy for skin pa-thologies. This review examines recent research on how thymoquinone accelerates wound healing and the mechanisms behind its effectiveness. We carried out a comprehensive review of literature and electronic databases, including Google Scholar, PubMed, Science Direct, and MedlinePlus. Our aim was to gather relevant papers published between 2015 and August 2023. The main crite-ria for inclusion were that the articles had to be peer reviewed, original, written in English, and discuss the wound-healing parameters of thymoquinone in wound repair. Our review focused on the effects of thymoquinone on the cellular and molecular mechanisms involved in wound heal-ing. We also examined the role of cytokines, signal transduction cascades, and clinical trials. We found sufficient evidence to support the effectiveness of thymoquinone in promoting wound healing. However, there is no consensus on the most effective concentrations of these substances. It is therefore essential to determine the optimal treatment doses and the best route of administra-tion. Further research is also needed to investigate potential side effects and the performance of thymoquinone in clinical trials.
... The essential oil of BCS inhibits the growth of pathogenic bacteria [9]. Furthermore, BCS extracts and essential oil have demonstrated additional physiological effects, such as antiinflammatory and anti-diarrheal properties, impacting various systems within the body, including the endocrine and immunological systems [10]. ...
T HIS research study aimed to investigate the impact of dietary supplementation with black cumin, garlic, and licorice. On the productive indicators of 600 white quail chicks in Egypt. The experiment was conducted on a private farm from The first of February 2023, for 34 days. The quail chicks were divided into eight groups, with each group consisting of an average of 75 chicks. Within each group, three replicates were created, comprising 25 quail chicks each. All groups were subjected to identical housing and care conditions throughout the 34-day study period. The control group received the standard farm system diet without any supplements, serving as the baseline group. The remaining seven experimental groups received the basal diet supplemented with different combinations of black cumin, garlic, and licorice in powder form. The supplementation levels were 0.5% for each ingredient individually and in various combinations. The Results Shown: In the study, the eighth group, which received all forage additives (black seed, garlic, and licorice), exhibited a significant (P<0.05) superiority in live weight, leg and breast indicating improved digestion and enhanced bird immunity. Experimental groups showed higher average liver weight, indicating potential benefits for immunity. while the groups using black seed showed weight gain. Significant differences were found in leg and breast weight, although not reaching significance levels. Abdominal fat was significantly reduced in all experimental groups. Moreover, total protein and albumin levels were significantly increased by licorice and garlic, and total cholesterol levels, especially LDL cholesterol, decreased significantly in the eighth group.
... Its seeds have been used as natural medication for lots of diseases for over 2000 years. Kalonji seeds are natural feed additive which stimulate the digestive system, enhance appetite and thereby increase the amount of feed intake 10 . Addition of kalonji seeds at 1% level in broiler diet caused a significant (P≤0.05) ...
A study was conducted on 100, day old guinea fowls (Pearl variety) for 12 weeks to study the efficacy of fenugreek (Trigonella foenum-graecum) and kalonji (Nigella sativa) seed powder supplementation on carcass traits and meat composition of thigh and breast. The experimental guinea fowls were randomly divided into five treatment groups viz. T1 control, T2 (2.0% fenugreek seed powder), T3 (1.0% kalonji seed powder), T4 (2.0% fenugreek +1.0% kalonji seed powder) and T5 (1.0% fenugreek + 0.5% kalonji seed powder), with two replications of ten guinea fowls each. The supplementation was done for 84 days. On 84th day, three guinea fowls from each replicate (6 guinea fowls/treatment) were sacrificed for study of carcass yield, cut up parts, organ weights and processing losses. The results indicated that dietary fenugreek and kalonji seed powder supplementation in guinea fowls improved dressed yield in T4 group of guinea fowls. Cut up parts in terms of thigh weights were improved in fenugreek and kalonji seed powder supplemented groups with maximum weight observed in T5 group of guinea fowls whereas breast weight was significantly increased in T4 group of guinea fowls. From the results of present study, it can be concluded that combination of fenugreek (2%) and kalonji (1%) seed powder through feed may be advised to improve carcass yield in guinea fowls.
The current study was performed to determine the effect of dietary vitamin E, sesamin and thymoquinone bioactive lignans derived from sesame and black seed on immunological response, intestinal traits and Mucin2 gene expression in broiler quails. Three hundred and fifty (one days-old) quails were allotted to seven dietary treatments with five replicates as an experimental randomized design study. Treatments were basal diet as a control, control þ100 and þ200mg of vitamin E, sesamin and thymoquinone per each kg of diet respect-ively. At 35 d of age, two quails from each pen were chosen, weighted, slaughtered, eviscer-ated and lymphoid organ relative weights were measured. Anti-body titers against Newcastle disease (ND), Sheep red blood cell (SRBC), and infectious bronchitis virus (IBV) and Avian influenza (AI) vaccination were determined. The serum activities of alkaline phos-phatase (ALP), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and serum antioxidant activates such as superoxide dismutase (SOD),glutathione peroxidase(GPX), cata-lase (CAT) and total antioxidant capacity (TAC) were examined. The cell mediated immunity by dinitrochlorobenzene (DNCB) and phytohemagglutinin (PHA) challenges were assessed. The microflora populations of ileum, morphological traits of jejunum and mucin2 gene expression were analyzed. Data showed that the lymphoid organ (thymus, spleen and Bursa) relative weights and antibody titer against HI, AI, SRBC and IB vaccination were increased compared to the control (p�0.05). Serum activities of ALP, ALT and AST were decreased under influences of dietary treatments (p�0.05). The serum antioxidant activates of GPX,SOD,CAT and TAC were increased and Increasing in mean skin thickness after DNCB challenge and decrease wing web swelling response to PHA mitojen injection were observed (p�0.05). Salmonella enterica, E-coli and Coliforms colonies were decrease and Lactobacillus colonies increased instead (p�0.05). The villus height and surface, crypt depth and goblet cells density were increased compared to the control (p�0.05). The expression of MUC2 gene increased under influnces of vitamin E, sesamin and thymoquinone supple-mented diets (p0.05)
In-vitro cytotoxic screening of extracts of Nigella sativa L. seeds (Ranunculaceae) indicated cytotoxicity in the ethyl-acetate fraction (EAF) against different classes of cancer cell lines, P388, Molt4, Wehi 164, LL/2, Hep G2, SW620 and J82, as measured by 3-(4, 5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay. The ethyl-acetate column chromatographic fraction (CC-5) showed selectivity against Hep G2, Molt4, and LL/2. CC-5 was relatively non-toxic against human umbilical cord endothelial cells at 50 microg/ml. CC-5 had no stimulatory effect on mouse splenocytes as such. CC-5 and water fraction, however, enhanced the proliferative response in the presence of ConA (3 microg/ml), but not LPS (1 and 6 microg/ml). These data indicate that CC-5 possesses a potent cytotoxic effect as well as a potentiating effect on the cellular immune response. The mechanism whereby it produces this needs to be resolved.
The potential antitumor effect of thymoquinone (TQ), the main constituent of the volatile oil of Nigella sativa seed, on fibrosarcoma induced by 20-methylcholanthrene (MC) in male Swiss albino mice was investigated in vivo and in vitro. Administration of TQ (0.01% in drinking water) I week before and after MC treatment significantly inhibited the tumor incidence and tumor burden by 43% and 34%, respectively, compared with the results in the group receiving MC alone. Moreover, TQ delayed the onset of MC-induced fibrosarcoma tumors that appeared at 12 weeks and produced less MC-induced mortality. Lipid peroxide accumulation, decreased glutathione (GSH) content, and decreased activities of glutathione S-transferase (GST) and quinone reductase (QR) were observed in the liver of MC-induced tumor-bearing mice. TQ alone showed a significant induction in the enzyme activities of hepatic GST and QR. Mice treated with TQ along with MC showed reduction in hepatic lipid peroxides and increased GSH content and increased enzyme activities of GST and QR as compared to results of the control group. The in vitro studies showed that TQ inhibited the survival of fibrosarcoma cells with IC50 of 15 microM. Conversely, TQ inhibited the incorporation of [3H] thymidine in fibrosarcoma cells with IC50 of microM. Our data indicate the potential of TQ as a powerful chemopreventive agent against MC-induced fibrosarcoma tumors. The possible modes of action of TQ may be through its antioxidant activity and interference with the DNA synthesis coupled with enhancement of detoxification processes.