BLACK CUMIN

Nigella sativa is an annual flowering plant, native to south and southwest Asia. It grows to 20-30 cm (7.9-12 in) tall, with finely divided, linear (but not thread-like) leaves. The flowers are delicate, and usually coloured pale blue and white, with five to ten petals. The fruit is a large and inflated capsule composed of three to seven united follicles, each containing numerous seeds. The seed is used as a spice.

ETYMOLOGY

COMMON NAMES

The scientific name is a derivative of Latin niger (black). Common namesIn English, Nigella sativa seed is variously called fennel flower, nutmeg flower, Roman coriander, blackseed or black caraway. Other names used, sometimes misleadingly, are onion seed and black sesame, both of which are similar-looking, but unrelated. The seeds are frequently referred to as black cumin (as in Assamese: kaljeera or kolajeera or Bengali kalo jeeray), In south Indian language Kannada it is called "Krishna Jeerige", but this is also used for a different spice, Bunium persicum (= Carum bulbocastanum).

HISTORY

According to Zohary and Hopf, archeological evidence about the earliest cultivation of N. sativa "is still scanty", but they report supposed N. sativa seeds have been found in several sites from ancient Egypt, including Tutankhamun's tomb. Although its exact role in Egyptian culture is unknown, it is known that items entombed with a pharaoh were carefully selected to assist him in the afterlife.

HISTORY OF MEDICINE

In Islam, N. sativa is regarded as one of the greatest forms of healing medicine available. In the Unani Tibb system of medicine, black cumin is regarded as a valuable remedy for a number of diseases. Sayings of Islamic Prophet Muhammad underline the significance of Nigella sativa. According to a hadith narrated by Abu Hurairah, he says, "I have heard the Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, saying that the black granules (kalonji) is the remedy for all diseases except death." The seeds have been traditionally used in the Middle East and Southeast Asian countries to treat ailments including asthma, bronchitis, rheumatism and related inflammatory diseases, to increase milk production in nursing mothers, to promote digestion and to fight parasitic infections. Its many uses have earned black cumin seed the Arabic approbation Habbatul barakah, meaning the "seed of blessing". Its oil has been used to treat skin conditions, such as eczema and boils, and to treat cold symptoms. Many researchers have recently also studied its reaction towards cancer, and it is said to have many anticancer properties.

BLACK CUMIN

Original black cumin (Carum bulbocastanum) is rarely available, so N. sativa is widely used instead; (in India, Carum carvi is the substitute). Cumins are from Apiaceae or Umbelliferae (both names are allowed by the ICBN) family, but N. sativa is from Ranunculaceae family. Black cumin (not N. sativa) seeds come as paired or separate carpels, and are 3-4mm long. They have a striped pattern of nine ridges and oil canals, and are fragrant (Ayurveda says, "Kaala jaaji sugandhaa cha" (black cumin seed is fragrant itself), blackish in colour, boat-shaped, and tapering at each extremity, with tiny stalks attached; it has been used for medicinal purposes for centuries, both as a herb and pressed into oil, in Asia, the Middle East, and Africa. It has been traditionally used for a variety of conditions and treatments related to respiratory health, stomach and intestinal health, kidney and liver function, circulatory and immune system support, as analgesic, anti-inflammatory, antiallergic, antioxidants, anticancer, antiviral and for general well-being.

SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH

Nigella sativa oil (black cumin seed oil) contains nigellone (dithymoquinone), which protects guinea pigs from histamine-induced bronchial spasms (perhaps explaining its use to relieve the symptoms of asthma, bronchitis, and coughing). The presence of the sterol beta-sitosterol lends credence to its traditional use to treat abscesses and tumors of the abdomen, eyes, and liver. N. sativa oil has been reported to be effective in treating opioid dependence. N. sativa also has been reported to reduce calculi formation in rats' kidneys. The oil contains melanthin, nigilline, damascenine and tannins. Melanthin is toxic in large doses and nigelline is paralytic, so this spice must be used in moderation. Thymoquinone and pancreatic cancer treatmentThe chemical compound thymoquinone isolated from N. sativa seed oil blocks pancreatic cancer cell growth in vitro and kills the cells by enhancing the process of programmed cell death (apoptosis) acting as an HDAC inhibitor. While the studies are in the early stages and no clinical study has started,the researchers speculated thymoquinone may eventually have some use as a preventative strategy in patients who have gone through surgery and chemotherapy or in individuals who are at a high risk of developing cancer. Nigella sativa supplemented manually prepared diet decreases egg yolk cholesterol and suppresses harmful intestinal bacteria in laying hen. N. sativa seed might have potential as an alternative to hazardous antibiotic to formulate low cost and environment-friendly diet for the laying hens for low cholesterol eggs Islam et al. (2011).

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