Black seed oil is a substance that is extracted from the seeds of Nigella sativa, a plant that is native to Egypt, the sub-continent and Asia. Black seed and black seed oil have long been used as herbal medicine for skin conditions, such as eczema, psoriasis, acne and dry skin, allergies, colds and more serious health conditions, such as asthma, arthritis, cancer and diabetes.
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The endocannabinoid system (the body's "master regulatory system") might benefit from black cumin seed oil, due to its phytocannabinoid content. Phytocannabinoids are beneficial plant compounds found in black cumin seed oil, hemp, hops, rosemary, and more. "Black cumin seed oil contains a key phytocannabinoid called beta-caryophyllene (BCP). BCP binds exclusively to the CB2 cannabinoid receptor. This receptor dominates in the peripheral nervous system, immune system, gut, liver, skin, and bones—so supporting it is important to maintaining health in these systems," explains Robert Rountree, M.D., a functional medicine pioneer.
Research on black seed oil, or Nigella sativa, suggests that it may benefit your health in a variety of ways. Here are some of the most promising findings to date: One of the oldest traditional uses of black cumin seeds was to promote overall digestive health, with tinctures of the seeds frequently being used for indigestion and bloating, loss of appetite, and diarrhea. Additionally, studies have found that a black cumin seed solution helped prevent the formation of gastric ulcers in rats. Researchers speculate that this is due to the gastroprotective effects of thymoquinone, which has been shown to inhibit acid secretion and help maintain the layer of mucus that lines and protects the gut.
The different doses of N. sativa seed (1, 2, and 3 g/day) in patients with DM-2 were also evaluated. A one g/day administration increased high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-c) levels after 3 months while two and three g/day of N. sativa seed significantly decreased serum levels of total cholesterol (TC) and triglyceride (TG) as well as low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-c) and increased plasma HDL-c [51]. In reference to modern scholars' devotion to the likely effects of medicinal herbs in diabetic management, a recent meta-analysis of antidiabetic effects of N. sativa [44] also exhibited the maintenance of glucose homeostasis and serum lipid profiles in diabetic human subjects [44, 51].
Black Seed Oil"It's also known as Nigella and black cumin seed," says Robinett. "Nigella is a member of the Ranunculaceae, or buttercup family, along with goldenseal, black cohosh, and yellowroot, which are also excellent herbs, though with different benefits from black seed oil. Like many plants that grow in difficult climates or conditions and develop natural defense mechanisms, Nigella passes those along to us. It's very much a superfood-slash-herb, if the color weren't convincing enough." Black seed oil, then, is a long-honored, expert-backed way to fortify your diet. But no need to rely on its reputation alone—below, we break down eight concrete benefits of black seed oil, who it might be best suited for, and how to incorporate it in your diet.
Cancer is a bigger challenge in medical science as the incidence of this health disorder is rapidly growing across the world. This prompts the efforts to search some effective natural anticancer therapies alternative to currently employed chemotherapies with limited applications. The effect of black seed in different types of cancer cells is summarized in Table 2. As there are ten cancer hallmarks which are common to most tumors, TQ, a major active component of N. sativa, plays great role in affecting all markers of cancer [123].
