Nigella Sativa (Black Cumin) Health Benefits: A Natural Remedy for Inflammation, Infection, and Chronic Disease

Nigella sativa, also known as black cumin or black seed, is a plant from the Ranunculaceae family that has been used since ancient times for its healing properties. It has shown benefits in treating problems related to the stomach, lungs, heart, infections, and inflammation.

Black Cumin seeds and the plant it comes from.

This review focuses on the plant's health benefits, especially in Arab cultures where it’s called “the plant that cures any disease.” These effects come from natural chemicals in the seeds, such as thymoquinone, p-cymene, α-thujene, longifolene, β-pinene, α-pinene, and carvacrol. These substances give the seeds strong antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties by reducing harmful molecules in the body (ROS).

The review also highlights how black seed might work well when combined with other medicines—like antibiotics or cancer drugs—by making them more effective or reducing the needed dose. Research suggests that black seed could be used alone or alongside other treatments.

Although early studies are promising, more in-depth research and clinical trials are needed to fully understand how it works, how best to use it, and its safety. For now, black seed can be used in small amounts in food and medicine, but only for short periods until more is known.

Nigella sativa (black seed) is widely known for its positive effects on health. In traditional medicine, its seeds have been used to treat a variety of conditions, including aches, diarrhea, back pain, rheumatism, high blood pressure, diabetes, migraines, digestive and respiratory issues, and even cancer. It also acts as a natural antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, and diuretic.

The most powerful compound in black seed is thymoquinone (TQ), along with other active ingredients like p-cymene, α-thujene, longifolene, β-pinene, α-pinene, and carvacrol. These are used in different forms—essential oils, powders, capsules, and extracts.

Researchers are increasingly interested in black seed because of its wide range of health benefits. Thymoquinone, in particular, helps reduce oxidative stress and harmful molecules (ROS), lowers inflammation, strengthens the immune system, and supports energy production and cell health. It may also help protect against serious conditions like cancer, neurological disorders, and diseases affecting the heart, liver, kidneys, lungs, digestion, and metabolism.

NS is acceptable to be used in food and drug manufacturing but in small amounts and to be administered for brief periods. Therefore, to be eligible for use in therapies, NS needs more detailed investigations to obtain clearer insights into the toxicological profile of NS and verify if it can be safely used in higher quantities and for longer times. To conclude, the findings reviewed in this paper offer an updated framework for future research in the field, encouraging further in-depth interdisciplinary studies that would help advance present NS-based therapeutic strategies to reach clinical settings. From Nigella sativa: A Comprehensive Review of Its Therapeutic Potential, Pharmacological Properties, and Clinical Applications. Published: 14 December 2024 in International Journal of Molecular Sciences.

Read the full, in-depth research.