“Black seed” refers to the seeds of the plant Nigella sativa, which have been harvested for their therapeutic properties for thousands of years. Current research suggests black seed has favorable effects on several aspects of cardiovascular and metabolic health and possesses anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, antimicrobial, and immune-modulating properties that may benefit a variety of conditions.
Black seed is most often used for
Last Updated:March 15, 2024
Black seed, which is derived from the plant Nigella sativa, is used both as a spice and an herbal medicine across various cultures. It is rich in nutritional compounds, including polyunsaturated fatty acids, vitamins, minerals, and phytochemicals, particularly thymoquinone.
Black seed offers anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and immune-modulating benefits and has significant effects on cardiovascular and metabolic health, particularly in improving glycemic control and lipid profiles. It may also help reduce blood pressure and promote slight weight loss in people with overweight or obesity, though most studies have been short term, and long-term effectiveness remains uncertain.
The main drawbacks of black seed include gastrointestinal side effects such as diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, and heartburn. Additionally, there have been reports of allergic skin reactions, ranging from mild dermatitis to severe conditions like Stevens-Johnson syndrome and DRESS syndrome.
Black seed works primarily through its main active compound, thymoquinone, along with various bioactive phytochemicals, which may modulate lipid levels, improve glycemic control, and exhibit anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects. Its mechanisms include reducing cholesterol synthesis, enhancing LDL clearance, inhibiting glucose absorption, and activating AMPK in cells.
Black seed is typically taken in the form of an oil or a ground powder, taken orally at a dosage of 1 to 3 grams daily. For people with type 2 diabetes, preliminary research suggests that 2 grams daily may be the sweet spot for achieving beneficial effects on lipids and blood glucose.[1]
For topical use, most research has used preparations containing 10% to 20% black seed applied twice daily.
While black seed is available in various forms (seed oil, water extract, or whole ground seed), water extracts seem to be less effective, likely because thymoquinone (the main active compound in black seed) is fat-soluble. The whole ground seed and oil appear similarly effective, although more research comparing the two is needed.[2][3]
It’s important to keep in mind that the chemical composition of black seed can vary greatly depending on how it is grown, harvested, and processed. This could lead to inconsistent effects of black seed with seemingly equivalent doses.[4]
Because of the high content of polyunsaturated fatty acids in black seed, storing the supplement in the fridge in a dark, sealed container may help prevent oxidation.[5]
Full FAQ and database update
We expanded the existing FAQs to include more information about how black seed works, its drawbacks, its traditional uses, and how it might affect cardiometabolic health, skin health, asthma, allergies, and COVID-19. We also added 10 new meta-analyses to the Examine database.
One new meta analysis added
We added one additional meta-analysis to the database.
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