Nigella sativa (Kalonji): A Black Seed of Miracle

It is recommended by the World health organization (WHO) that most of the world's population depends on herbal medicine for their health care. Nigella sativa is commonly known as a Black seed, Black cumin or 'Habbatul Barakah' i.e. an annual herb possessing a wide range of medicinal uses apart from its commercial significance as a spice yielding plant. It has long been used in the folk medicine system of the Arabian Gulf region, Far East Asia, and Europe. Seeds and oils of N. Sativa are the primary medicinal source from ancient times. It is one of the most common herbal plants used worldwide and possesses various chemical constituents such as thymoquinone, thymohydroquinone, dithymoquinone, thymol, nigellicine, carvacrol, nigellicine, nigllimine, nigellidine, and alpha-hederin. There are more than 100 constituents isolated from the plant. These chemical compounds have many pharmacological activities such as antibacterial, antiviral, anti-inflammatory, wound healing effect and also for acne vulgaris, skin cancer, pigmentation and many other cosmeceutical properties. Much scientific research on N. sativa has been conducted over the last five decades to investigate chemical and pharmacological properties. In this review, the phytochemicals, pharmacological properties, Ayurvedic properties and folk uses of Nigella sativa are briefly explained. Keywords: Nigella sativa, Kalonji, Antinephrotic, Immunomodulary, Black cumin.