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Research on the effects of black cumin on our immune system
Black cumin (Nigella sativa)
"Cures every disease except death"
(Prophet Muhammad)
The beneficial seeds of black cumin have been a sought-after remedy in the Orient for thousands of years for colds, headaches, toothaches, rheumatic diseases, asthma, gastrointestinal complaints, high blood pressure, all types of cancer, uterine diseases, and menstrual disorders. They are used to inhibit perspiration, increase potency, against worms and parasites, in fever and after poisonous stings and bites,[1] [2] [3] skin diseases, jaundice, loss of appetite, conjunctivitis, dyspepsia, rheumatism, diabetes, intrinsic hemorrhage, paralysis, amenorrhea, anorexia, cough, bronchitis, headache, fever, influenza, and eczema. [4] [5] [6] [7] [8] [9]
In the Western world, true black cumin remained in the shadows for a long time. It was not until a horse suffering from asthma was cured that black cumin was rediscovered in Europe.[10] Black cumin is one of the best evaluated evidence-based medicinal plants.
Recent studies demonstrate the versatility of black cumin
Black cumin contains over 100 valuable ingredients that positively influence many biochemical processes in the body, as well as balance hormones, metabolism and the immune system.
Black cumin has a broad (incl. antibiotic resistant gram-negative and gram-positive) antibacterial,[11] [12] Antifungal,[13] [14] [15] [16] [17] [18] [19] [20] Antiviral,[21] [22] [23] [24] Antiparasitic,[25] [26] [27] Anti schistosomiasises,[28] [29] [30] [31] Spectrum of activity.
Black cumin can be used in chronic inflammatory bowel disease, inflammation of blood vessels, circulatory disorders, diabetes, insulin resistance,[32] dissolution of kidney stones,[33] rheumatoid arthritis,[34] chronic neuropathic pain,[35] fever,[36] high blood pressure,[37] [38] Dyslipidemia, metabolic syndrome,[39] [40] [41] Asthma, hay fever,[42] [43] Allergies,[44] cramps, [45] [46] Toxicities,[47] [48] metabolic diseases,[49] menopause,[50] [51] Obesity,[52] [53] [54] dyslipidemia,[55] hyperlipidemia,[56] childhood epilepsy,[57] [58] [59] chronic hepatitis C,[60] [61] HIV,[62] [63] Tapeworms,[64] male infertility,[65] [66] Rheumatoid arthritis[67].
According to research, black cumin prevents tumor growth and metastasis in blood, breast, colon, pancreatic, liver, lung, fibrosarcoma, prostate, kidney, skin, and cervical cancers.[68] [69] [70] [71] After methotrexate treatment in children with lymphocytic leukemia, black cumin decreases liver damage and increases survival rate.[72]
[1] Gilani, A. U. H., Jabeen, Q., & Khan, M. A. U. (2004). A Review of Medicinal Uses and Pharmacological Activities of Nigella sativa. Pakistan Journal ofBiological Sciences, 7(4), 441-451
[Research Gate]
[2] Krishnapura Srinivasan, Cumin (Cuminum cyminum) and black cumin (Nigella sativa) seeds: traditional uses, chemical constituents, and nutraceutical effects, Food Quality and Safety, Volume 2, Issue 1, March 2018, Pages 1–16,
[Oxford Academic Journals]
[3] Ramadan, M. F. (2007). Nutritional value, functional properties and nutraceutical applications of black cumin (Nigella sativa L.): an overview. International journal of food science & technology, 42(10), 1208-1218.
[International Journal of Food Science & Technology]
[5] Burits M, Bucar F. Antioxidant activity of Nigella sativa essential oil. Phytother Res. 2000;14:323–328.
[PubMed]
[6] Rajsekhar, Saha & Kuldeep, Bhupendar. (2011). Pharmacognosy and Pharmacology of Nigella sativa - A review. International Research Journal of Pharmacy. 2. 36-39.
[researchgate]
[7] Merfort I, Wray V, Barakat HH, Hussein SAM, Nawwar MAM, Willuhn G. Flavonoid triglycerides from seeds of Nigella sativa. Phytochemistry. 1997;46:359–363.
[sciencedirect]
[8] Warrier PK, Nambiar VPK, Ramankutty C, Vasudevan Nair R. Telangana: Orient Longman; 2004. Indian Medicinal Plants: A Compendium of 500 Species; pp. 139–142.
[onlinelibrary.wiley]
[9] New Delhi: 1989. The Ayurvedic Pharmacopoeia of India, part 1, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare; pp. 119–120.
[ayush.gov.in]
[11] Antimicrobial effect of crude extracts of Nigella sativa on multiple antibiotics-resistant bacteria. Morsi NM Acta Microbiol Pol. 2000; 49(1):63-74.
[PubMed]
[12] Detection of the antibacterial effect of Nigella sativa ground seeds with water. Bakathir HA, Abbas NA Afr J Tradit Complement Altern Med. 2011; 8(2):159-64.
[PubMed]
[13] Antidermatophyte activity of ether extract of Nigella sativa and its active principle, thymoquinone. Aljabre SH, Randhawa MA, Akhtar N, Alakloby OM, Alqurashi AM, Aldossary A J Ethnopharmacol. 2005 Oct 3; 101(1-3):116-9.
[PubMed]
[14] Novel antifungal defensins from Nigella sativa L. seeds. Rogozhin EA, Oshchepkova YI, Odintsova TI, Khadeeva NV, Veshkurova ON, Egorov TA, Grishin EV, Salikhov SI Plant Physiol Biochem. 2011 Feb; 49(2):131-7.
[PubMed]
[15] El-Nagerabia SA, Al-Bahryb SN, Elshafieb AE, AlHilalib S. Effect of Hibiscus sabdariffa extract and Nigella sativa oil on the growth and aflatoxin B1 production of Aspergillus flavus and Aspergillus parasiticus strains. Food Cont. 2012;25:59–63.
[sciencedirect]
[16] Sunita M, Meenakshi SH. Chemical composition and antidermatophytic activity of Nigella sativa essential oil. Afr J Pharm Pharacol. 2013;7:1286–1292.
[EJHP]
[17] Fierro IM, Barja-Fidalgo C, Cunha FQ, Ferreira SH. The involvement of nitric oxide in the anti-Candida albicans activity of rat neutrophils. Immunology. 1996;89:295–300.
[PMC free article]
[18] 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;17:183–186.
[PubMed]
[19] Bita A, Rosu A, Calina D, et alAn alternative treatment for Candida infections with Nigella sativa extractsEuropean Journal of Hospital Pharmacy: Science and Practice 2012;19:162.
[EJHP]
[20] Abdel Azeiz AZ, Saad AH, Darweesh MF. Efficacy of thymoquinone against vaginal candidiasis in prednisolone-induced immunosuppressed mice. J Am Sci. 2013;9:155–159.
[researchgate]
[21] Oxidants and antioxidants in viral diseases: disease mechanisms and metabolic regulation. Peterhans E J Nutr. 1997 May; 127(5 Suppl):962S-965S.
[PubMed]
[22] In vivo acute depletion of CD8(+) T cells before murine cytomegalovirus infection upregulated innate antiviral activity of natural killer cells. Salem ML, Hossain MS Int J Immunopharmacol. 2000 Sep; 22(9):707-18.
[PubMed]
[23] Protective effect of black seed oil from Nigella sativa against murine cytomegalovirus infection. Salem ML, Hossain MS Int J Immunopharmacol. 2000 Sep; 22(9):729-40.
[PubMed]
[24] Barakat EM, El Wakeel LM, Hagag RS. Effects of Nigella sativa on outcome of hepatitis C in Egypt. World J Gastroenterol. 2013;19:2529–2536.
[PMC free article]
[25] Field trial of Saussurea lappa roots against nematodes and Nigella sativa seeds against cestodes in children. Akhtar MS, Riffat S J Pak Med Assoc. 1991 Aug; 41(8):185-7.
[PubMed]
[26] Okeola VO, Adaramoye OA, Nneji CM, Falade CO, Farombi EO, Ademowo OG. Antimalarial and antioxidant activities of methanolic extract of Nigella sativa seeds (black cumin) in mice infected with Plasmodium yoelli nigeriensis. Parasitol Res. 2011;108:1507–1512.
[PubMed]
[27] Baghdadi HB, Al-Mathal EM. Anti-coccidial activity of Nigella sativa L. J Food Agricul Envir. 2011;9:10–17.
[researchgate]
[28] Mahmoud MR, El-Abhar HS, Saleh S. The effect of Nigella sativa oil against the liver damage induced by Schistosoma mansoni infection in mice. J Ethnopharmacol. 2002;79:1–11.
[PubMed]
[29] Cytogenetic studies on Nigella sativa seeds extract and thymoquinone on mouse cells infected with schistosomiasis using karyotyping. Aboul-Ela EI Mutat Res. 2002 Apr 26; 516(1-2):11-7.
[PubMed]
[30] Mohamed AM, Metwally NM, Mahmoud SS. Sativa seeds against Schistosoma mansoni different stages. Mem Inst Oswaldo Cruz. 2005;100:05–211.
[PubMed]
[31] Shenawy El Nahla S, Soliman MF, Reyad SI. The effect of antioxidant properties of aqueous garlic extract and Nigella sativa as anti- schistosomiasis agents in mice. Rev Inst Med Trop Sao Paulo. 2008;50:29–36.
[PubMed]
[32] Shabana, A., El-Menyar, A., Asim, M., Al-Azzeh, H., & Al Thani, H. (2013). Cardiovascular benefits of black cumin (Nigella sativa). Cardiovascular toxicology, 13(1), 9-21.
[ACADEMIA]
[33] Benhelima, A., Kaid-Omar, Z., Hemida, H., Benmahdi, T., & Addou, A. (2016). Nephroprotective and diuretic effect of Nigella sativa L seeds oil on lithiasic wistar rats. African Journal of Traditional, Complementary and Alternative Medicines, 13(6), 204-214.
[African Journals Online]
[34] Überblick über Studien zum Schwarzkümmel und seiner Wirkung Prof. Dr. Sigrun Chrubasik-Hausmann, Schwarzkümmel
[Uniklinik Freiburg]
[35] Effects of intraperitoneal thymoquinone on chronic neuropathic pain in rats. Amin B, Taheri MM, Hosseinzadeh H Planta Med. 2014 Oct; 80(15):1269-77.
[PubMed]
[36] Pharmacological and toxicological properties of Nigella sativa. Ali BH, Blunden G Phytother Res. 2003 Apr; 17(4):299-305.
[PubMed]
[37] Hebi, M., Zeggwagh, N., Hajj, L., El Bouhali, B., & Eddouks, M. (2016).Cardiovascular effect of Nigella sativa L. Aqueous Extract in Normal Rats. 16(1), 47-55.
[researchgate]
[38] Dehkordi, F. R., & Kamkhah, A. F. (2008). Antihypertensive effect of Nigella sativa seed extract in patients with mild hypertension. Fundamental & clinical pharmacology, 22(4), 447-452.
[PubMed]
[39] Cardio-protective and anti-cancer therapeutic potential of Nigella sativa. Shafiq H, Ahmad A, Masud T, Kaleem M Iran J Basic Med Sci. 2014 Dec; 17(12):967-79.
[PubMed]
[40] Cardiovascular benefits of black cumin (Nigella sativa). Shabana A, El-Menyar A, Asim M, Al-Azzeh H, Al Thani H Cardiovasc Toxicol. 2013 Mar; 13(1):9-21.
[PubMed]
[41] A review of the effects of Nigella sativa L. and its constituent, thymoquinone, in metabolic syndrome. Razavi BM, Hosseinzadeh HJ Endocrinol Invest. 2014 Nov; 37(11):1031-40.
[PubMed]
[42] Boskabady, M. H., Javan, H., Sajady, M., & Rakhshandeh, H. (2007). The possible prophylactic effect of Nigella sativa seed extract in asthmatic patients. Fundamental & clinical pharmacology, 21(5), 559-566.
[Wiley Online Library]
[43] Balaha, M. F., Tanaka, H., Yamashita, H., Rahman, M. N. A., & Inagaki, N. (2012). Oral Nigella sativa oil ameliorates ovalbumin-induced bronchial asthma in mice. International immunopharmacology, 14(2), 224-231.
[Science Direct]
[44] Kalus, U., Pruss, A., Bystron, J., Jurecka, M., Smekalova, A., Lichius, J. J., & Kiesewetter, H. (2003). Effect of Nigella sativa (black seed) on subjective feeling in patients with allergic diseases. Phytotherapy Research: An International Journal Devoted to Pharmacological and Toxicological Evaluation of Natural Product Derivatives, 17(10), 1209-1214.
[Wiley Online Library]
[45] Parvardeh S, Nassiri-Asl M, Mansouri SMT, Hosseinzadeh H. Study on the anticonvulsant activity of thymoquinone, the major constituent of Nigella sativa L. seeds, through intracerebroventricular injection. J Med Plants. 2005;4:45–52.
[researchgate]
[46] Anticonvulsant effects of thymoquinone, the major constituent of Nigella sativa seeds, in mice. Hosseinzadeh H, Parvardeh S Phytomedicine. 2004 Jan; 11(1):56-64.
[PubMed]
[47] Effect of Nigella sativa fixed oil on ethanol toxicity in rats. Pourbakhsh H, Taghiabadi E, Abnous K, Hariri AT, Hosseini SM, Hosseinzadeh H Iran J Basic Med Sci. 2014 Dec; 17(12):1020-31.
[PubMed]
[48] Neuroprotective effect of thymoquinone in acrylamide-induced neurotoxicity in Wistar rats. Mehri S, Shahi M, Razavi BM, Hassani FV, Hosseinzadeh H Iran J Basic Med Sci. 2014 Dec; 17(12):1007-11.
[PubMed]
[49] Clinical efficacy of the co-administration of Turmeric and Black seeds (Kalongi) in metabolic syndrome - a double blind randomized controlled trial - TAK-MetS trial. Amin F, Islam N, Anila N, Gilani AH Complement Ther Med. 2015 Apr; 23(2):165-74.
[PubMed]
[50] Alternative supplement for enhancement of reproductive health and metabolic profile among perimenopausal women: a novel role of Nigella sativa. Latiff LA, Parhizkar S, Dollah MA, Hassan ST Iran J Basic Med Sci. 2014 Dec; 17(12):980-5.
[PubMed]
[51] Protective Effects of Nigella sativa on Metabolic Syndrome in Menopausal Women. Ibrahim RM, Hamdan NS, Ismail M, Saini SM, Abd Rashid SN, Abd Latiff L, Mahmud R Adv Pharm Bull. 2014; 4(1):29-33.
[PubMed]
[52] Oxidative Stress Responses to Nigella sativa Oil Concurrent with a Low-Calorie Diet in Obese Women: A Randomized, Double-Blind Controlled Clinical Trial. Namazi N, Mahdavi R, Alizadeh M, Farajnia SPhytother Res. 2015 Nov; 29(11):1722-8.
[PubMed]
[53] Effects of Nigella sativa oil with a low-calorie diet on cardiometabolic risk factors in obese women: a randomized controlled clinical trial. Mahdavi R, Namazi N, Alizadeh M, Farajnia S Food Funct. 2015 Jun; 6(6):2041-8.
[PubMed]
[54] Efficacy of Nigella sativa on serum free testosterone and metabolic disturbances in central obese male. Datau EA, Wardhana, Surachmanto EE, Pandelaki K, Langi JA, Fias Acta Med Indones. 2010 Jul; 42(3):130-4.
[PubMed]
[55] Fatima A, Shad MN, Asrar A, Murad S. Effects of Nigella sativa on HDL-c & body weight. Pak J Med Health Sci. 2014;8(1):122–4.
[researchgate]
[56] Effect of Nigella sativa and Allium sativum coadminstered with simvastatin in dyslipidemia patients: a prospective, randomized, double-blind trial. Ahmad Alobaidi AH Antiinflamm Antiallergy Agents Med Chem. 2014 Mar; 13(1):68-74.
[PubMed]
[57] The effect of Nigella sativa L. (black cumin seed) on intractable pediatric seizures. Akhondian J, Parsa A, Rakhshande H Med Sci Monit. 2007 Dec; 13(12):CR555-9.
[PubMed]
[58] The effect of thymoquinone on intractable pediatric seizures (pilot study). Akhondian J, Kianifar H, Raoofziaee M, Moayedpour A, Toosi MB, Khajedaluee M Epilepsy Res. 2011 Jan; 93(1):39-43.
[PubMed]
[59] The clinical outcome of adjuvant therapy with black seed oil on intractable paediatric seizures: a pilot study. Shawki M, El Wakeel L, Shatla R, El-Saeed G, Ibrahim S, Badary O Epileptic Disord. 2013 Sep; 15(3):295-301.
[PubMed]
[60] Beneficial therapeutic effects of Nigella sativa and/or Zingiber officinale in HCV patients in Egypt. Abdel-Moneim A, Morsy BM, Mahmoud AM, Abo-Seif MA, Zanaty MI EXCLI J. 2013; 12():943-55.
[PubMed]
[61] Effects of Nigella sativa on outcome of hepatitis C in Egypt. Barakat EM, El Wakeel LM, Hagag RS World J Gastroenterol. 2013 Apr 28; 19(16):2529-36.
[PubMed]
[62] Nigella sativa concoction induced sustained seroreversion in HIV patients. Onifade AA, Jewell AP, Adedeji WA Afr J Tradit Complement Altern Med. 2013; 10(5):332-5.
[PubMed]
[63] Onifade AA, Jewell AP, Okesina AB. Seronegative conversion of an HIV positive subject treated with Nigella sativa and honey. Afr J Infect Dis. 2015;9(2):47–50.
[researchgate]
[64] Field trial of Saussurea lappa roots against nematodes and Nigella sativa seeds against cestodes in children. Akhtar MS, Riffat S J Pak Med Assoc. 1991 Aug; 41(8):185-7.
[PubMed]
[65] Effects of Nigella sativa L. seed oil on abnormal semen quality in infertile men: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial. Kolahdooz M, Nasri S, Modarres SZ, Kianbakht S, Huseini HF Phytomedicine. 2014 May 15; 21(6):901-5.
[PubMed]
[66] Mandavi R, Heshmati J, Namazi N. Effects of black seeds (Nigella sativa) on male infertility: a systematic review. J Herb Med. 2015;5(3):133–9. doi: 10.1016/j.hermed.2015.03.002.
[Science Direct]
[67] Effectiveness of Nigella sativa oil in the management of rheumatoid arthritis patients: a placebo controlled study. Gheita TA, Kenawy SA Phytother Res. 2012 Aug; 26(8):1246-8.
[PubMed]
[68] Majdalawieh, A. F., & Fayyad, M. W. (2016). Recent advances on the anti-cancer properties of Nigella sativa, a widely used food additive. Journal of Ayurveda and integrative medicine, 7(3), 173-180.
[Science Direct]
[69] Cardio-protective and anti-cancer therapeutic potential of Nigella sativa. Shafiq H, Ahmad A, Masud T, Kaleem M Iran J Basic Med Sci. 2014 Dec; 17(12):967-79.
[PubMed]
[70] Thymoquinone in the clinical treatment of cancer: Fact or fiction? Abukhader MM Pharmacogn Rev. 2013 Jul; 7(14):117-20.
[PubMed]