Abstract

CHEMICAL CHARACTERIZATION AND POTENTIAL HEALTH BENEFITS OF NIGELLA SATIVA

Vandana Thakur*, Vikash, Vagesh Kumar, Varun Kumar, Vishal Choudhary and Vipasha Negi

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Abstract

Nigella Sativa, commonly known as black seed or black cumin, holds a storied history dating back millennia, with its medicinal use documented in ancient Egyptian, Greek, and Islamic texts. This review provides a historical overview, chemical characterization, and potential health benefits of N. sativa, shedding light on its enduring significance in traditional medicine and its modern therapeutic potential. Chemical characterization reveals that N. sativa contains a diverse array of bioactive compounds, including thymoquinone, thymohydroquinone, and dithymoquinone, which exhibit potent antioxidant, antiinflammatory, antimicrobial, and anticancer properties. These compounds are primarily found in the essential oil fraction of N. sativa seeds. Nigella Sativa, with its diverse array of bioactive compounds, presents several notable health benefits. Research indicates its effectiveness in managing diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, respiratory ailments, and neurological disorders. Moreover, it demonstrates hepatoprotective and nephroprotective effects while also modulating the immune system. These findings underscore its potential as a versatile natural remedy for addressing a range of health issues. The black seeds are used for reducing adverse effects of arthritis, asthma, inflammation, liver and gastro disorders besidesthe irpotentialrolei ndiabetes andcancers. Thefocusof thisreview istohighlight themedicinal significance of N. sativa in traditional medicine and opportunities for exploitation in contemporary medicine.

Keywords: N. Sativa, Thymoquinone, Thymohydroquinone, Anticancer.