Black cumin, or black seed, Nigella sativa L. (Ranunculaceae), is considered a medicinal herb. N. sativa is approved for use in food by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and has been designated Generally Recognized as Safe (GRAS) by the Flavors and Extracts Manufacturers Association (FEMA). The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) considers the essential oil to be a “chemical of concern” due to the presence of certain alkaloids.
Caution! Sometimes confused with the seeds of Cuminum cyminum L. ("true" cumin), Carum carvi L. or Bunium persicum (Boiss.)
Black cumin is available in the form of essential oil (due to its strong flavor, you can consume it with a little honey or lemon juice), paste, powder and extract, and is indicated in traditional medicine for many diseases/conditions. It is also available in capsule form.
Properties: antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, immunomodulatory, anticancer, neuroprotective, antimicrobial, antihypertensive, cardioprotective, antidiabetic, gastroprotective, nephroprotective and hepatoprotective properties, may improve the severity of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. Also, black cumin with the phytochemical Thymoquinone it contains, could potentially mitigate the side effects of many drugs used for cancer and other diseases.
Black cumin seed, especially its essential oil, contains thymoquinone, thymohydroquinone, thymol, carvacrol, nigellidine, nigellisine, and α-ederin, which are mainly responsible for its pharmacological effects and therapeutic benefits. In many cases, thymoquinone is the one considered responsible for the pharmacological effects of black cumin. However, some studies have presented important findings regarding the significant health benefits caused by other phytochemicals of black cumin.In general, short-term use of up to 3 months or less has not been associated with serious side effects. However, there is limited research on the long-term safety of consuming larger doses.
Some side effects that may occur in some people are nausea and bloating or even allergic reactions.
It is generally considered safe, but if you are taking any medications or are pregnant, you should consult your doctor or clinical dietitian. Importantly, it does not replace any current medications you may already be taking.
Recommended Dosage: There is currently no established recommended dosage for black seed oil. It is important to talk to your healthcare provider for individualized dosage recommendations. 1-3 grams per day for 4-12 weeks is usually safe. Black cumin powder has been most commonly used in doses of 1-2 grams (about a quarter teaspoon) taken orally daily for 8-12 weeks. So you can put black cumin in a grinder like a pepper grinder and add it to your food.
The ground seeds and oil appear to be similarly effective, although more research is needed to compare the two.
Storage: It is recommended to store the oil in a cool, dry place in a sealed container. If you buy the oil in a plastic bottle, transfer it to a dark glass bottle.
References
Hannan MA, Rahman MA, Sohag AAM, Uddin MJ, Dash R, Sikder MH, Rahman MS, Timalsina B, Munni YA, Sarker PP, Alam M, Mohibbullah M, Haque MN, Jahan I, Hossain MT, Afrin T, Rahman MM, Tahjib-Ul-Arif M, Mitra S, Oktaviani DF, Khan MK, Choi HJ, Moon IS, Kim B. Black Cumin (Nigella sativa L.): A Comprehensive Review on Phytochemistry, Health Benefits, Molecular Pharmacology, and Safety. Nutrients. 2021 May 24;13(6):1784. doi: 10.3390/nu13061784. PMID: 34073784; PMCID: PMC8225153.
Burdock GA. Assessment of black cumin (Nigella sativa L.) as a food ingredient and putative therapeutic agent. Regul Toxicol Pharmacol. 2022 Feb;128:105088. doi: 10.1016/j.yrtph.2021.105088. Epub 2021 Nov 25. PMID: 34838871.
Sarkar C , Jamaddar S , Islam T , Mondal M , Islam MT , Mubarak MS . Therapeutic perspectives of the black cumin component thymoquinone: A review. Food Funct. 2021 Jul 21;12(14):6167-6213. doi: 10.1039/d1fo00401h. Epub 2021 Jun 4. PMID: 34085672.
Farhangi MA, Tajmiri S. The effects of powdered black cumin seeds on markers of oxidative stress, intracellular adhesion molecule (ICAM)-1 and vascular cell adhesion molecule (VCAM)-1 in patients with Hashimoto's thyroiditis. Clin Nutr ESPEN. 2020 Jun;37:207-212. doi: 10.1016/j.clnesp.2020.02.015. Epub 2020 Mar 10. PMID: 32359745.
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