Nigella Sativa: a Plant with Multiple Therapeutic Implications

The medicinal plants have attracted great attention in the recent years for better therapeutic management of diseases. Nigella sativa is one of the most extensively studied plants and has gained more and more interest for potential medical use in recent years. Historical and traditional uses of this herb have been widely documented in ancient documents; and Nigella sativa have been broadly used throughout the world for the promotion of health and for the treatment of many acute, as well as, chronic conditions for centuries. The seeds of Nigella sativa has rich biological active compounds, and are used as a natural remedy to treat various ailments since it has a variety of pharmacological properties, which include antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, immunopotentiating actions, anti-cancer, analgesic, antihistaminic, anti-microbial, hypoglycemic, gastroprotective, nephroprotective, lung protective, cardioprotective, hepatoprotective, and neuroprotective. This plant also has positive effects on reproductive system and skin diseases. On the other side, adverse effects and toxicity about use of Nigella sativa were rarely reported. An ingredient isolated from seeds and evaluated mostly is thymoquinone, but since the beneficial effects of seeds not limited to this compound and it appears the all compounds in the seeds act synergistically; in this article, attempt that the effects of Nigella sativa is addressed. In this review, we summarize and discuss the effects of Nigella sativa seeds in the treatment and prevention of various diseases. This review is mainly intended to provide a comprehensive knowledge regarding existing data of the pharmacological and toxicological actions of this plant. INTRODUCTION: The use of plants as medicines dates from the earliest years of man‟s evolution and there is a vast historical legacy regarding the use of plants in folk medicine. Herbal medicine requiring special consideration due to their potential impact of people‟s health. Due to the widespread belief that “green medicine” is safe, the use of plant products is perceived as effective, better tolerated by patients, and less expensive 1 . QUICK RESPONSE CODE DOI: 10.13040/IJPSR.0975-8232.IJP.2(5).190-14 Article can be accessed online on: www.ijpjournal.com DOI link: http://dx.doi.org/10.13040/IJPSR.0975-8232.IJP.2(5).190-14 In recent years, medicinal plants have stimulated new interest of research in the light of scientific developments throughout the world, to find agents that are more efficacious. Nigella sativa Linn (NS) is one of the most useful medicinal herbs that is considered a panacea to promote health and treat a wide range of diseases for more than 2000 years. It has many common applications by people in the countries surrounding the Mediterranean Sea, the Arab world, Indians and Persians 2 . The historical tradition of black seed in medicine is substantial also religious. NS seeds were prescribed by ancient Egyptian and Greek physician to treat a variety of problems, including headache, nasal congestion, toothache, and intestinal worms, as