A Comprehensive Review of Black Cumin

Shaikh Shoeb*, Mohammad Huzaifa, Bagwan Saman, 

Ali Allana College of Pharmacy, Akkalkuwa (M.S.) India

*Correspondence: shaikhshoeb4440@gmail.com

INTRODUCTION

Nigella sativa (N. sativa) (Family Ranunculaceae), also known as black seed, has been used as a spice and food preservative for thousands of years, as well as a protective and curative remedy for several disorders. According to Islamic tradition, blackseed is a universal remedy for all ailments but cannot prevent aging or death. In the Holy Bible, blackseed is known as the curative black cumin, and it is described as Melanthion by Hippocrates and Dioscorides, and Gith by Pliny. Many studies on the effect of N. sativa seed extracts on various body systems in vitro or in vivo have been conducted over the last two decades.

Taxonomic classification

Kingdom: Plantae

Subkingdom: Tracheobionta

Superdivision: Spermatophyta

Phylum: Magnoliophyta

Class: Magnoliopsida

Order: Ranunculales

Family: Ranunculaceae

Genus: Nigella

Species: N. sativa

1.      Black Cumin: Flower                                                 2.  Seed

Origin of the name: Originally black cumin was the common name for Bunium persicum and later named as Carum bulbocastanum, which is now near extinction and slowly Carum carvi graduated to the name and due to inability of the species to all over India, later N. sativa was adopted from Portuguese or Turkish merchants [1].

Common Name: Black cumin, Fennel Flower, Nutmeg Flower, Black seed, Black Caraway, Roman Coriander, Damascena, Devil in-the-bush, Wild Onion Seed.

Varieties: Rarang (1.7), Pangi (1.4), Stang (2.1), Barang (1.3), Sanji (1.9), Rispa (2.0), Kanam (2.4), Kilba (1.7), Ribba (1.8), Singla (2.3), Telangi (1.4), Thangi (1.9), Maiber (2.4), Rogi (1.5), Kothi (1.8), Spillow (2.4), Morang (1.7), Purbani (1.8), Sharboo (1.8), Sunam (1.8). The application of NRCSS AN 1 to various agrotechniques is also reported 2. Cheikh-Rouhou also mentioned Tunisian and Iranian varieties.

HabitatN. sativa is indigenous to Southern Europe, North Africa, and Southwest Asia, and it is grown in a variety of countries around the world, including the Middle Eastern Mediterranean region, South Europe, India, Pakistan, Syria, Turkey, and Saudi Arabia. [3].

Traditional Uses of Nigella sativa:

Nigella sativa has been widely used as a spice and flavoring agent in a variety of food preparations such as bread, yogurt, pickles, sauces, and salads in Folk Remedies. Black seed, also known as black cumin in English, Habbatul Barakah in Arabic, and Tikur azmud in Amharic, has long been used in traditional medicine in Arabia, Far East Asia, Europe, and Africa. [4]. Nigella sativa has also been described as a miraculous plant and was dubbed "The herb from heaven" by early herbalists. [5]. "Hold on to use this black seed, as it has a remedy for every illness except death," the Prophet Mohammed (PBUH) said of its curative powers. [6] Avicenna, a well-known physician of the 10th century known for his book "The Canon of Medicine," recommended using Nigella seeds to boost the body's energy and also to help with recovery from fatigue and depression. Nigella sativa is also mentioned in the Holy Bible for its curative properties, and Hippocrates and Dioscorides labeled it as Melanthion. [7, 8]Black Cumin seeds are used in traditional herbal systems to treat a variety of ailments variety of ailments such as different airway disorders, pain such as chronic headache and back pain, diabetes, paralysis, infection, inflammation, hypertension, and digestive tract related problems. It has also been used topically to treat blisters, nasal abscesses, orchitis, eczema, and swollen joints. [6].

Plant description: 

The species is an erect annual herb (Fig. 1) with a mature height of 30.0 cm to 67.6 cm (mean: 52.18 cm 4.42). The number of primary branches per plant ranges from 4 to 10 (mean: 7.00.71); the leaf arrangement is alternate, the leaf phylotaxy is 1-2, the pinnae of the leaves are broad, and the number of pinnae per rachis is 5-6; the total number of branches per plant is 22.54.1 (6-48); the flower is hermaphrodite with distinct flowing patterns, the main axis terminates with a solitary flower (Fig. 1) Flower size 2.74 cm 2.78 cm; color French blue (43/3 - Horticultural Color Chart); flowers pedunculate with no involucre of bractspeduncle long and erect; petalloid sepals broad, ovate in a single whorl, 4-6 mostly 5, and with nectaries; Stamens in 3 to 4 whorls, numerous (32 to 66; 49.62.7), and shed pollen as the filament bent outward during male phase; gynoecium 5, completely united follicles, each with a long indehiscent style and composed of variable number of multi ovule carpel, developing into a follicle after pollination; fruit single partially connected to form a capsule like structure (capsule 5 to 45; mean 0.13; seta per capsule 4 to 8, mean 5.10±0.10) with numerous seeds (59.29±3.2; average seed production/plant - 935±177.9; seed yield - 1.91 gm; seed viability 80% to 90%); seeds ovate, tetrangular, angles sharp, acute, more tapering at the end (Fig. 4), color black (000021 - British Atlas of Colour, 2007); seed size 2.33 mm ± 0.1 × 1.14 mm ± 0.02. The quantitative data for the species came from plants grown in the Department of Botany's Experimental Garden at the University of Kalyani (West Bengal plains, Nadia, latitude 22°50' to 24°11' N, longitude 88°09' to 88°48' E, 48 feet above sea level, sandy loamy soil, organic carbon 0.76%, soil pH 6.85 - Mandal et al.13) as rabi crop in November (15th Nov - sowing; 40 cm between rows and 30 cm between plants) and harvested in the last week of March or the first week of April. [9].

Cultivation:

In India, N. sativa is mostly grown as a Rabi crop once a year, from October (late) - November to March-April in the plains and May-June in the hills.

1. Cultivation and Production Area: According to the Comparative Sales Report 2010, VDM Verlag Dr. Muller AG & Co., India has 6234600 ha and 254000 t of annual production; Turkey has 8122010 ha and 689350 t; the United States has 16420 ha and 11200 t; and the United Kingdom has 500 ha and 10 to 20 t.

2. Climate: Grows well in areas ranging from cool-dry with light snowfall to warm-humid. Cool, humid weather encourages flowering and seed production. [10].

3. Soil: The best soil for cultivation is sandy loam rich in microbial activity. Sloppy soils in high rainfall areas and leveled, well-drained soils in low rainfall areas are both suitable for cultivation. A soil pH of 7.0 to 7.5 is ideal for cultivation. [10].

4. Preparation of Land:One ploughing, followed by 2-3 harrowings and levelings, will suffice. [10].

5. Method of Sowing: Sowing seeds or replanting previous year's root stocks. During October-November, seed is sown by broadcasting (1.5 kg/hectare), seed drill method, or line sowing with 30, 40, or 50 cm spacing between lines and at a depth of 2 cm. After 20 days of sowing, the plant is thinned to a distance of 20 cm. When the soil moisture content of the field is favorable for deep ploughing, i.e. neither too wet nor too dry, bulbs (previous year root stock) can be sown. [10].

6. Manure and Fertilizer: Every year, NPK (5:3:2) is applied along the side of the planted bulbs. [10].

7. Weed Control: Weeding on a regular basis reduces weed competition and creates a favorable environment for growth and development. Hand hoe or khurpi weeding at intervals of 20 to 25 days is recommended. [10].

8. Irrigation: A single or two irrigations during the flowering and seed formation stages can help increase grain size and oil content. [10]^.

9. Harvesting: In the West Bengal Plains, black cumin is harvested as a Rabi crop from late March to the first week of April. The crop harvested before shedding at the little green stage has high aromatic oil content and a good market. When fully ripe, black cumin keeps its seed viability longer. It is critical to harvest before shedding (fruit shattering is a major issue), and thus two to three or more pickings can be done to avoid seed loss due to capsule shattering. The harvested crop is dried in the sun and threshed with a stick. [10].

10. Post-Harvest Management: Because the capsules (fruit) tend to shatter when mature, N. sativa necessitates extensive labor in collection and harvest. Fruit post-harvest management typically entails hand harvesting and dry storage until natural dehiscence. The mature fruits require little attention because they self-preserve, and their essential oil acts as a strong deterrent to fungal attack, insect attack, and rodent infestation. [11].

Chemical composition of black seeds:

Thymoquinone (30%-48%), thymohydroquinone, dithymoquinone, p-cymene (7%-15%), carvacrol (6%-12%), 4-terpineol (2%-7%), tanethol (1%-4%), sesquiterpene longifolene (1%-8%) -pinene and thymol are the most important active constituents. The seeds contain two types of alkaloids: isoquinoline alkaloids, such as nigellicimine and nigellicimine N-oxide, and pyrazol alkaloids, which include nigellidine and nigellicine. Furthermore, the seeds of N. sativa contain alpha-hederin, a water-soluble pentacyclic triterpene, and saponin, a potential anticancer agent. ¹² The majority of N. sativa's pharmacological properties are attributed to quinine constituents, the most abundant of which is thymoquinone. N. sativa seeds contain protein (26.7%), fat (28.5%), carbohydrates (24.9%), crude fiber (8.4%), and total ash (4.8%), as well as vitamins and minerals such as Cu, P, Zn, and Fe. ¹³; fatty oil high in unsaturated fatty acids, primarily linoleic acid (50-60%), oleic acid (20%), eicodadienoic acid (3%), and dihomolinoleic acid (10%); saturated fatty acids (palmitic and stearic acid) account for 30% or less. Sitosterol is a significant sterol, accounting for 44% and 54% of total sterols, respectively total sterols in Tunisian stigmasterol (6.57-20.92% of total sterols) 14. Other chemical components that have been reported include nigellone, avenasterol-5-ene, avenasterol-7-ene, campesterol, cholesterol, citrostadienol, lophenol, obtusifoliol, stigmastanol, stigmasterol-7-ene, -amyrin, butyro-spermol, cycloartenol, 24-methylene-cycloartanol, taraxerol, tir 3-O-[-D-xylopyranosyl (13), -L-rhamnopyranosyl (12), -L-arabinopyranosyl]-28-O-[- L-rhamnopyranosyl (14)]- -D-glucopyranosyl(16)--D-glucopyranosyl] Hederagenin, fatty oil, volatile oil (0.5-1.6%) (35.6-41.6%), oleic acid, unsaturated fatty acid esters with C15 and higher terpenoids, aliphatic alcohol, melanthin, melanthigenin, bitter principle, tannin, resin, protein, reducing sugar, glycosidal saponin, 3-O-[-D-xylopyranosyl-(12)- -L-rhamnopyranosyl-(12)-D-glucopyranosyl]Stigma -11-methoxy-16, 23-dihydroxy-28-methylolean-12-enoatecycloart-23-methyl-7, 20, 22-triene-3, 25-diol, nigellidine-4-O-sulfite A3, A4, A5, C, N. mines A1, A2, B1, and B2 [15,16] .

Medicinal uses:

N. sativa seeds are used to treat diseases such as bronchitis, diarrhea, rheumatism, asthma, and skin disorders. It has liver tonic, anti-diarrheal, appetite stimulant, and emmenagogue properties. It is used to treat digestive problems, increase milk production in nursing mothers, combat parasitic infections, and strengthen the immune system. [17]. Seeds are also used in food as a flavoring additive in breads and pickles due to their low toxicity. [18]. Seeds can be used to treat worms and skin eruptions. Externally, oil is used as an antiseptic and a local anesthetic. Internal administration of roasted black seeds is used to stop vomiting. [19].

Pharmacological activities: N. sativa has been extensively studied for its biological activities, which include diuretic, antihypertensive, bronchodilator, gastroprotective, hepatoprotective, antidiabetic, anticancer and immunomodulatory, analgesic, antimicrobial, analgesics and anti-inflammatory, spasmolytic, renal protective, and antioxidant properties.

Antibacterial activityDifferent crude extracts of N. sativa demonstrated antimicrobial efficacy against bacterial strains that were either gram negative or gram positive. Crude extracts of N. sativa demonstrated a potential antibacterial effect against some of the test organisms. The crude alkaloid and water extracts of N. sativa were the most effective. Gram negative isolates were more vulnerable than gram positive isolates. [20]. Hannan et al. (2008) investigated N. sativa's antibacterial activity against clinical isolates of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus. In his study, all of the tested strains of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus were sensitive to an ethanolic extract of Nigella sativa at a concentration of 4 mg/disc, with a MIC range of 0.2-0.5 mg/mL. [21]^. Another study determined the antibacterial activity of N. sativa against and triple therapy in the suppression of Helicobacter Pylori in patients with non-ulcer dyspepsia. The anti-H. pylori activity of N. sativa seeds was comparable to triple therapy. [21].

Antifungal activity: In mice, an aqueous extract of N. sativa seeds has an inhibitory effect on candidiasis. [22]. Using the Agar diffusion method, the antidermatophyte activity of ether extract of N. sativa and thymoquinone was tested against eight species of dermatophytes: four species of Trichophyton rubrum and one each of Trichophyton interdigitale, Trichophyton mentagrophytes, Epidermophyton floccosum, and Microsporum canis. N. sativa ether extract and thymoquinone have inhibitory activity against fungal strains. The findings indicate that N. sativa has the potential to be a source of antidermatophyte drugs. [23]. In another study anti yeast activity of the black cumin seed quinines, dithymoquinone, thymohydroquinone, and In vitro testing of thymoquinone against six dairy spoilage yeast species was performed. Thymohydroquinone and thymoquinone had strong antifungal activity.

Cardiovascular activity: The acute effects of diesel exhaust particles on cardiopulmonary parameters in mice were investigated, as well as the protective effect of thymoquinone. Mice were given diesel exhaust particles intravenously. Systemic inflammation was caused by diesel exhaust particles, which resulted in leucocytosis, increased IL-6 concentrations, and decreased systolic blood pressure. Diesel exhaust particles reduced platelet counts and exacerbated thrombosis in pial arterioles in vivo. The addition of diesel exhaust particles to untreated blood caused platelet aggregation in vitro. Thymoquinone pretreatment of mice prevented diesel exhaust particle-induced decreases in systolic blood pressure and leucocytosis, as well as increased IL-6 concentration. Thymoquinone also prevented platelet count reductions and prothrombotic events, but not platelet aggregation in vitro. [24].

Anticancer activity: One study looked at the anti-cancer effects of Nigella sativa L. seed extracts in vitro and in vivo. The essential oil and ethyl acetate extracts were found to be more cytotoxic against the P815 cell line than the butanol extract in the study. The cytotoxic effect of the extracts on the ICO1 cell line was comparable, with IC50 values ranging from 0.2 to 0.26% (v/v), but tests on the BSR cell line revealed a high cytotoxic effect of the ethyl acetate extract (IC50 = 0.2%) compared to the essential oil (IC50 = 1.2%). [25] .

ACKNOWLEDGMENT: Thanks to the Ali-Allana College of pharmacy principal sir and management for providing the specific requirements for this project.

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