Scientific Name:
Nigella sativa L.
Local Name(s):
Alhabah Alsodaa, Habat Albaraka.
Arabic Name(s):
Alhabah Alsodaa, Habat Albaraka; Cumon Aswad,
Showneez(Per.)
Common Name(s):
Black seed, Black Cumin
Family:
Ranunculaceae
Flowers
Seeds
Leaves & Fruit
Description:
Annual herb,30-50 cm high, pubescent or glandular-hirsute. Leaves much divided,
finely pinnate, leaf- segments linear to linear-lanceolate . Flowers solitary at end of
branches, blue, star-shaped, sepals 5, petaloid, oval c.7-14x 6-8mm, shortly clawed;
petals smaller than the sepals, 5(-8), nectariferous, with a bent claw and two lobes,
stamens numerous, carpels 2-10 fused with five free styles. Fruit several follicles,
crowned by persistent styles, many-seeded, brownish when ripe; seeds dark grey to
black, trigonous, wrinkled , white and oleaginous inside, aromatic
Habitat & Distribution:
The plant is found wild in southern Europe, northern Africa , Asia Minor and in the
Mediterranean region, but has been cultivated into other parts of the world including
Saudi Arabia, Mediterranean countries, northern Africa and parts of Asia, in UAE
rarely cultivated in private farms.
Part Used:
Seeds,oil
Traditional & Medicinal Uses:
The seeds are acrid, bitter, aromatic, thermogenic, carminative, diuretic,
emmenagogue, anodyne, antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, digestive, appetizer,
anthelmintic, febrifuge, stimulant, galactagogue, expectorant and sudorfic.
The seeds are also used for cough, amenorrhea, flatulence, jaundice, dyspepsia,
inflammation, paralysis, skin , eyes, respiratory , stomach and liver problems,
diarrhea, dysentery and dysmenorrheal.
Pharmacognosy and Phytochemistry
Parts Studied: Seed
Microscopic Description:
The epidermis of the testa is composed of compact polygonal cells with straight thick
cell walls and they are rich in dark-coloured pigments. The parenchyma of the testa
are also polygonal and they show beaded thick cell walls and the cell pigment
contents are dark orange to red in colour. The outermost layer of the endosperm is
composed of compact whitish parenchyma cells. The endospermic parenchyma are
also polygonal and are rich in fatty material.( DPS ZCHRTM Unpub.Results).
a
b
c
(a). A general TS of the seed near the tip showing its typical pyramidal shape. Shown
from outside are the papillose cells and normal epidermal cells (dark purple) then
layers of paranchymatous cells (light brown) and then the circular light pink area of
the endosperm. (b). TS of the seed showing the outer most group of papillose cells
with thick cells walls followed by normal oval epidermal cells underlain by layers of
parenchyma followed by the yellowish-brown colored collenchymas (outermost layer
of the endosperm) then the polygonal endospermic cells. (c). TS at the seed
endosperm polygonal cells some of which are almost square in outline. Those to the
right side are filled with aleurone grains and other substances while those on the left
side contain oil droplets. ( Magnifications: x 100, x 400 and x 400, respectively).
Organoleptic characteristics:
Appearance:
Colour:
Odour:
Taste:
Solid powder
Grayish black
Spicy
Hot
Physicochemical constants:
Loss in weight on drying at 1050C (%):
6.10
Solubilities (%)
Alcohol solubility:
Water solubility:
10% ethanolic extractive:
34.80-36.80
12.00Not done
Ash values (%)
Total ash:
Water soluble ash:
Acid-insoluble ash:
4.50
Nil
0.33
Successive extractive (%)
Petroleum ether (60-800C):
Chloroform:
Absolute alcohol:
Distilled water:
37.0-38.3
1.5-1.6
550-5.90
Not done
pH values
pH of 1% solution:
pH of 10% solution:
6.14
5.97
Chemical constituents:
Volatile oil (1.5%) consists of carvone (45-60%), carvene (limone, a terpene) and
cymene. Seeds yield 38% of fixed oil. Negellimine N-oxide, Citronellol,Nigellicine
and thymoquinone have also been reported form seed. (Buckingham 1994, DPS,
ZCHRTM Unpub. results ).
Pharmacological and Toxicological Studies:
Nigella seeds showed CNS and analgesic activity (Khanna and Zaidi, 1993); antiinflammatory activity (Ali aand Ammar, l997); antimicrobial effect (Morsi, 2000),
diuretic and hypotensive effects, (Zaoui and Cherrah 2000); antiviral activity (Salem
and Hossain, 2000).
Nigella sativa L. oil protects against induced hepatotoxicity and improves serum lipid
profile in rats (El-Dakhahny and Mady et al., 2000). Hepatoprotective activity of the
isolated fraction has also been shown (Daba and Abdel, l998).
Barkat et. al., 2000); antioxidant activity Antiulcer effects of aqueous extract
(Mansoor, et. al., 2001) has been reported. Immunomodulatory effect of Nigella
sativa proteins (Haq and Lobo, 1999) and of ethanolic extract of Nigella sativa L.
seeds reported (Swamy and Tan, 2000).Subchronic toxicity has been carried out
(Badary et .al., l998).
Black seeds are reported to have preventive effect of skin tumors induced by 7,12dimethylbenz (l) anthracene in mice (El-Dhakhahny and Abdel et. al., l997). The plant
enhances its anti-tumor activity in mice (Badary, l999). Anti-tumor activity of some
crude and purified compound has been shown by Nigella sativa (Worthen and
Ghosheh, l998).
The pharmacological and toxicological studies carried out in ZCHRTM
laboratory (Aqueous extract)
The results presented without references showed unpublished data (UPD, ZCHRTM,
DBMS):
ACTIVITY
RESULTS
Sexual studies-Copulatory activity
(Acute activity)
The extract did not show any sexual
stimulant activity (Copulatory activity).
Sexual studies-ICP
Significant increase in Intracavernous
pressure (ICP) was found.
Anti-asthmatic activity-Tracheal
Chain
Produced mild relaxation in histamine and
ACH pre-contracted tracheal chain.
Anticonvulsion activity
Showed mild protective effect.
Antidepressant activity
Showed significant antidepressant effect.
ACTIVITY
RESULTS
Acute toxicity studies
Found safe at the dose tested.
Antidepressant activity
Showed significant antidepressant activity.
Anti-convulsant activity
Showed significant anti-convulsant activity.
Anticonvulsion activity
Showed mild protective effect.
Estrogen activity
Failed to produce estrogenic activity.
Sub-acute toxicity test
Sub-acute administration of oil in the
animals treated for 15 days showed no overt
signs and symptoms at the dose tested.
Summary of the results:
The extract showed significant intracavernous pressure showing erectile activity.
However, did not show any sexual stimulation in coupulatory experiment. The extract
showed significant antidepressant activity and mild anticonvulsant activity in mice.
The extract and oil of Nigella sativa showed no overt signs and symptoms of toxicity
at the dose tested.
Antimicrobial activity
Extract of Nigella sativa seeds caused various concentration inhibition of
Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus cereus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Escherichia coli,
Salmonella typhimurium and a pathogenic yeast Candida albicans (DM, ZCHRTM;
Hanafy et al., 1991; Khan et al., 2003). On the other hand, black seed oil exhibited a
striking antiviral effect against murine cytomegalovirus (MCMV) infection which
may be mediated by increasing of macrophages; number and function, and interferon
(IFN)-gamma production. (Salem et al., 2000).
References:
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Akhtar, A. H., K. D. Ahmad, (1996). Antiulcer effects of aqueous extracts of
Nigella sativa and Pongamia pinnata in rats. Fitoterapia 67(3): 195-199.
Ali, H. A., M. Aqeel, (1993). Hypoglycemic effects of the volatile oil of
Nigella sativa seeds. International Journal of Pharmacognosy 31(2): 96-100.
Ali, O. S. Y., N. M. Ammar, (1997). Studies of some biochemical, nutritional
and anti-inflammatory effects of Nigella sativa seeds. Egyptian Journal of
Pharmaceutical Sciences 38(4-6): 451-469. Food Sciences and Nutrition
Department, National Research Center, Dokki, Cairo, Egypt.
Andrews, F.W. The Flowering Plants of Anglo-Egyptian Sudan;
(1950&1952) vol 1+II; Arbroath, Scotland.
Badary, O. A. (1999). Thymoquinone attenuates ifosfamide-induced Fanconi
syndrome in rats and enhances its antitumor activity in mice. Journal of
Ethnopharmacology.
Badary, O. A., S. O. A. Al, (1998). Acute and subchronic toxicity of
thymoquinone in mice. Drug Development Research 44(2-3): 56-61. Dep.
Pharmacology, Coll.
Buckingham,J.(edit). Dictionary of Natural Products,Vol.7, 683, 1994.
Chevallier ,A. The Encyclopedia of Medicinal Plants. (1996) Dorling
Kindersley Limited, London. ISBN 0 7513 03143.
Daba, M. H. and R. M. S. Abdel (1998). Hepatoprotective activity of
thymoquinone in isolated rat hepatocytes. Toxicology Letters Shannon 95(1):
23-29.
Department of Biomedical Sciences, Zyed Complex for Herbal Research and
Traditional Medicine, Unpublished results.
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Department of Microbiology, Zayed Complex for Herbal Research and
Traditional Medicine,Unpublished results.
Department of Pharmacognostic Sciences, Zyed Complex for Herbal
Research and Traditional Medicine, Unpublished results .
El Ghazali, Gamal, E. B et al. Medicinal Plants of Sudan, Part II, Medicinal
Plants of White Nile Province. (1994) Khartoum Univ. Press.
El, Dakhahny. M., N. I. Mady, (2000). Nigella sativa L. oil protects against
induced hepatotoxicity and improves serum lipid profile in rats. Arzneimittel
Forschung. 50(9): 832-836.
El, Dakhahny D. M., M. Barakat, . (2000). Effects of Nigella sativa oil on
gastric secretion and ethanol induced ulcer in rats. Journal of
Ethnopharmacology. 72(1-2): 299-304.
El, Dakhahny M. M. M., G. A. M. Abdel, (1997). Prevention of skin
tumors induced by 7,12-dimethylbenz anthracene in mice by black seed oil.
Oncology Reports 4(1): 139-141.
El-Dakhakhny M, Mady N, Lembert N, Ammon HP. (2002) The
hypoglycemic effect of Nigella sativa oil is mediated by extrapancreatic
actions. Planta Med. 68(5): 465-6.
Ghazanfar,S.A. Handbook of Arabian Medicinal Plants.(1994) Library of
Congress.
Hanafy MS, Hatem ME. Studies on the antimicrobial activity of Nigella
sativa seed (black cumin. J Ethnopharmacol. 1991 34(2-3):275-8.
Haq, A., P. I. Lobo . (1999). Immunomodulatory effect of Nigella sativa
proteins fractionated by ion exchange chromatography. International Journal
of Immunopharmacology. 21(4): 283-295 .
Khan MA, Ashfaq MK, Zuberi HS, Mahmood MS, Gilani AH. The in vivo
antifungal activity of the aqueous extract from Nigella sativa seeds. Phytother
Res. 2003;17(2):183-6.
Khanna, T., F. A. Zaidi, (1993). CNS and analgesic studies on Nigella
sativa. Fitoterapia 64(5): 407-410 .
Kotb, T. F. Medicinal Plants in Libya.(1985) Arab Encyclopedia House.
Tripoli-Libya.
Mansour MA, Ginawi OT, El-Hadiyah T, El-Khatib AS, Al-Shabanah
OA, Al-Sawaf HA. (2001) Effects of volatile oil constituents of Nigella sativa
on carbon tetrachloride-induced hepatotoxicity in mice: evidence for
antioxidant effects of thymoquinone. Res Commun Mol Pathol Pharmacol.
110(3-4): 239-51.
Miller,A.G. & Cope, T.A. (1996) Flora of the Arabian Peninsula and Socotra;
Vol I. Edinburgh Univ. Press. ISBN 07486 04 758
Nagi, M. N., K. Alam, et al. (1999). Thymoquinone protects against carbon
tetrachloride hepatotoxicity in mice via an antioxidant mechanism.
Biochemistry and Molecular Biology International 47(1): 153-159.
Salem, M. L. and M. S. Hossain (2000). Protective effect of black seed oil
from Nigella sativa against murine cytomegalovirus infection. International
Journal of Immunopharmacology.
Salomi, N. J., S. C. Nair, et al. (1992). Antitumour principles from Nigella
sativa seeds. Cancer Letters 63(1): 41-46.
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Swamy, S. M. K. and B. K. H. Tan (2000). Cytotoxic and
immunopotentiating effects of ethanolic extract of Nigella sativa L. seeds.
Journal of Ethnopharmacology. 70(1): 1-7.
Warrier,P.K. Nambiar,V.P.K. & Ramankutty C.,Vaidya, Sala A. Indian
Medicinal Plants . (1962) Vol I, Orient Longman, Kottakal, India.
Worthern, D. R., O. A. Ghosheh, et al. (1998). The in vitro anti-tumor
activity of some crude and purified components of black seed, Nigella sativa
L. Anticancer Research 18(3 ): 1527-1532. Div. Med. Chem. Pharm., Coll.
Pharm., University Ky., Rose St., Lexington, KY 40536, USA.
Zaoui, A., Y. Cherrah, et al. (2000). Diuretic and hypotensive effects of
Nigella sativa on the spontaneously hypertensive rat. Therapie London. Mai
Juin 55(3): 379-382.
‫( دار‬1999) .‫ﺔ‬
-‫ اﻟﺘﺠﻤﯿﻠﯿﺔ‬-‫ اﻟﻌﻼﺟﯿﺔ‬-‫ اﻻﺳﺘﺨﺪاﻣﺎت اﻟﻄﺒﯿﺔ‬:‫ھﺎﻧﺊ ﻋﺮﻣﻮش اﻷﻋﺸﺎب ﻓﻲ ﻛﺘﺎب‬
.‫ ﺳﻮرﯾﺎ‬،‫ دﻣﺸﻖ‬،‫اﻟﻨﻔﺎﺋﺲ‬
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