Latin (Botanical) Name: Nigella sativa
Plant Family: Ranunculaceae
Common Extraction Method: Cold press
Typically Used Plant Part: Seed
Color: Golden brown
Aromatic Characteristic: A light, earthy, woody and slightly spicy/bitter aroma.
Black cumin oil is obtained from the seeds of the botanical Nigella sativa, more commonly known as Fennel Flower, a small-flowered plant that grows in Southwest Asia, the Middle East, Southern Europe, and North Africa, producing fruits with small black seeds. It is also known by various names, including Black Oil, Baraka, Oil of Fitch, Oil of Kalajira, Oil of Kalonji, and Love in the Mist.
Because of their many therapeutic benefits, black cumin seeds and the oil they provide have been used in cosmetic, medicinal and culinary applications for over 3000 years. It has been very popular in various traditional medicine systems such as Unani and Tibb, Ayurveda and Siddha. Sometimes referred to as a "panacea" or universal healer. In traditional medicine, black cumin treatments have been applied for aches and topical irritations, including bites, wounds, inflammation, and rashes. According to historical sources, it is believed that black cumin oil was first used in ancient Egypt by famous royal figures such as Cleopatra and Nefertiti in skin care routines, beautifying baths and medicinal applications.
In India and the Middle East, black cumin seeds are roasted and dried and used as a spice and flavoring agent in vegetables, pulses, breads, curries and cheeses. According to the historical records of Ayurvedic medicine, black seed oil has been used in a wide variety of applications mainly because of its stimulating, warming and tonic properties as well as its uplifting effect on mood. It was also believed at that time to be beneficial in stimulating appetite and metabolism, alleviating neurological disorders, positively strengthening negative temperaments, and increasing harmony between body and mind.
According to historical records of 1st century Greek doctors, black cumin seeds were used to treat toothaches, headaches, nasal congestion and intestinal worms. Due to the strengthening properties of black seed oil, it was prescribed by doctors such as Hippocrates to patients suffering from general illness and weakness. Other ancient Greeks used it to stimulate the onset of menstruation and increase milk production in women. İbn-i Sina, in his book "Healing", praised the healing, refreshing and preventive properties of black cumin. In addition, İbn-i Sina states that black cumin seeds can be applied therapeutically to increase energy, relieve feelings of weakness, exhaustion, sadness and discouragement, to relieve and soothe the symptoms of colds, fever, headaches, local irritations, wounds, skin disorders, toothaches and intestinal worms & parasites.
Black cumin oil offers many benefits thanks to the fatty acids it contains.
KEY COMPONENTS / ACTIVE INGREDIENTS
BENEFITS
Black seed oil is commonly used topically to help with various skin problems and to moisturize hair. Research shows that due to its antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory effects, black seed oil can help treat some skin conditions such as acne, eczema, dry skin, psoriasis [1] [2] [3].
Black seed oil is rich in thymoquinone, which has powerful antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects. Research suggests that thymoquinone may help protect heart and brain health [8] [9] [10] [11] [12].
Studies have shown that black cumin oil helps lower blood pressure and cholesterol levels [18] [19] [20].
WARNINGS
ACADEMIC STUDIES
[1] A. M. Eid, N. A. Elmarzugi, L. M. A. Ayyash, M. N. Sawafta, H. I. Daana (2017). A Review on the Cosmeceutical and External Applications of Nigella sativa. J Trop Med. 2017; 2017: 7092514.
[2] S. H. M. Alijabrea, O. M.Alaklobya, M. A. Randhawab (2015). Dermatological effects of Nigella sativa. Journal of Dermatology & Dermatologic Surgery, Volume 19, Issue 2, July 2015, Pages 92-98
[3] M. Yousefi, B. Barikbin, M. Kamalinejad, E. Abolhasani, A. Ebadi, S. Younespour, M. Manouchehrian, S. Hejazi (2013). Comparison of therapeutic effect of topical Nigella with Betamethasone and Eucerin in hand eczema. J Eur Acad Dermatol Venereol. 2013 Dec;27(12):1498-504.
[4] Ahmad A., Husain A., Mujeeb M., Khan S.A., Najmi A.K., Siddique N.A., Damanhouri Z.A., Anwar F. (2013). A review on therapeutic potential of Nigella sativa: A miracle herb. Asian Pac J Trop Biomed. 2013 May; 3(5): 337–352.
[5] Hannan A, Saleem S, Chaudhary S, Barka M, Arshad MU. Anti-bacterial activity of Nigella sativa against clinicalisolates of methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus. J Ayub Med Coll Abbottabad. 2008;20(3):72–74.
[6] Bita A, Rosu AF, Calina D, Rosu L, Zlatian O, Dindere C, et al. et al. An alternative treatment for Candida infections with Nigella sativa extracts. Eur J Hosp Pharm. 2012;19:162.
[7] Halamova K, Kokoska L, Flesar J, Sklenickova O, Svobodova B, Marsik P. In vitro antifungal effect of black cumin seed quinones against dairy spoilage yeasts at different acidity levels. J Food Prot. 2010;73(12):2291–2295.
[8] Zhang Y.J., Gan R.Y., Li S., Zhou Y., Li A.N., Xu D.P., Li H.B. (2015). Antioxidant Phytochemicals for the Prevention and Treatment of Chronic Diseases. Molecules. 2015 Nov 27;20(12):21138-56.
[9] M. Akram Khan, M. Afzal (2016). Chemical composition of Nigella sativa Linn: Part 2 Recent advances. Inflammopharmacology. 2016; 24: 67–79.
[10] Staniek K., Gille L. (2010). Is thymoquinone an antioxidant? BMC Pharmacol. 2010; 10(Suppl 1): A9.
[11] Farkhondeh T., Samarghandian S., Shahri A.M.P., Samini F. The Neuroprotective Effects of Thymoquinone: A Review. Dose Response. 2018 Apr-Jun; 16(2).
[12] Mahmoud Y.K., Abdelrazek H.M.A. (2019). Cancer: Thymoquinone antioxidant/pro-oxidant effect as potential anticancer remedy. Biomed Pharmacother. 2019 Jul;115:108783.
[13] Keyhanmanesh R., Gholamnezhad Z., Boskabady M.H. (2014). The relaxant effect of Nigella sativa on smooth muscles, its possible mechanisms and clinical applications. Iran J Basic Med Sci. 2014 Dec; 17(12): 939–949.
[14] Koshak A., Wei L., Koshak E., Wali S., Alamoudi O., Demerdash A., Qutub M., Pushparaj P.N., Heinrich M. (2017). Nigella sativa Supplementation Improves Asthma Control and Biomarkers: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Trial. Phytother Res. 2017 Mar;31(3):403-409.
[15] He T., Xu X. (2019).The influence of Nigella sativa for asthma control: A meta-analysis. Am J Emerg Med. 2020 Mar;38(3):589-593
[16] Heshmati J., Namazi N. (2015). Effects of black seed (Nigella sativa) on metabolic parameters in diabetes mellitus: a systematic review. Complement Ther Med. 2015 Apr;23(2):275-82
[17] P. N. R. Rachman, Akrom, E. Darmawan (2018). The efficacy of black cumin seed (Nigella sativa) oil and hypoglycemic drug combination to reduce HbA1c level in patients with metabolic syndrome risk. IOP Conf. Series: Materials Science and Engineering 259 (2017) 012018.
[18] Mahdavi R., Namazi N., Alizadeh M., Farajnia S. (2015). Effects of Nigella sativa oil with a low-calorie diet on cardiometabolic risk factors in obese women: a randomized controlled clinical trial. Food Funct. 2015 Jun;6(6):2041-8.
[19] Heshmatia J., Namazi N., Memarzadeh M.R., Taghizadeh M., Kolahdooz F. (2015). Nigella sativa oil affects glucose metabolism and lipid concentrations in patients with type 2 diabetes: A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. Food Research International, Volume 70, April 2015, Pages 87-93.
[20] H. F. Huseini, M. Amini, R. Mohtashami, M. E. Ghamarchehre, Z. Sadeqhi, S. Kianbakht, A. F. Huseini (2013). Blood pressure lowering effect of Nigella sativa L. seed oil in healthy volunteers: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial. Phytother Res. 2013 Dec;27(12):1849-53
