Nigella Sativa - Black Seed

Black seeds - use in the kitchen and cosmetics. Properties of black cumin

Black cumin is a seed-bearing plant that has been used in cooking, cosmetics and medicine thanks to its unique properties. Black cumin seeds can help with high blood pressure and stomach ulcers. They will also help fight acne. In turn, in the kitchen, black seeds can be replaced with pepper. Check what action black seeds have and how to use it.

Black seed (Nigella sativa L.) is a plant native to Southeast Europe and West Asia with characteristic white or blue flowers with blue veins. Its fruits contain coal-black, triangular seeds, whose health properties were appreciated even by the pharaohs. In antiquity it was believed that black seed "can heal everything but death", therefore it was used in medicine as a specific for almost all diseases.

Modern research suggests that black cumin seeds have a potential healing effect. The seeds have anti-ulcer properties as they protect the gastric mucosa and reduce peptic ulcer damage. In addition, they protect the liver and kidneys from the toxic effects of chemicals and drugs.

In traditional medicine, they are used in various allergic diseases:

• allergic asthma
• eczema
• AD (atopic dermatitis),
• diabetes
• hypertension,
• parasitic diseases,
• and also with problems with lactation.

Black seed for pancreatic cancer and more?

According to the research of scientists - both laboratory and rodent - the compounds contained in black cumin have a potential anti-cancer effect. They caused the destruction and / or inhibition of cell growth in many forms of cancer.

The anti-cancer substances in black seed have contributed to the apoptosis (death) of HL60 myeloblastic leukemia cells, the MCF-7 breast cancer cell line, HeLa cervical cancer cells, HEp-2 laryngeal adenocarcinoma cells, as well as osteosarcoma cells and colon cancer cells.

Black seed extract has been shown to prevent damage from ionizing radiation in radiotherapy.

In addition, they inhibited the growth of the HepG2 liver cancer cell lines, as well as DNA synthesis, proliferation, and viability of the prostate cancer cell lines LNCaP, C4-B, and DU145, and PC-3. Researchers also concluded that the seed extract significantly reduced the viability of human lung cancer cells.

In turn, scientists from Ohio State University argue that the compounds contained in black cumin seeds inhibited the cloning ability of CNS cancer cells - glioblastoma of the brain and spinal cord. In addition, studies on black cumin extract have shown its cytotoxicity against certain types of lymphoma, sarcoma 180, pancreatic adenocarcinoma and uterine sarcoma. Yet other studies show that topical application of black cumin extract inhibited the development of skin cancer in mice.

The above-mentioned anti-cancer properties are in most cases attributed to a substance called thymoquinone - the main active ingredient of black seed oil. It should be noted that the anti-cancer substances contained in the seeds had a destructive effect only on cancer cells and did not damage the healthy cells. Unfortunately, no clinical trials have been conducted to confirm the anti-cancer properties of black cumin in humans.

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Black cumin seeds contain fatty oil, which in 85 percent. consists of unsaturated fatty acids, volatile oil, carbohydrates (about 32%), protein (about 22% - they contain 8 out of 9 essential amino acids), alkaloids, flavonoids and saponins, as well as beta-carotene, B vitamins and numerous minerals: calcium, magnesium, iron, potassium, selenium, zinc. However, the most important ingredient - due to its unique health-promoting properties - seems to be thymoquinone.

Black Seeds and Diabetes

Studies on diabetic rats show that the essential oil and thymoquinone contained in black cumin seeds contributed to a reduction in glucose levels and an increase in insulin secretion.

In turn, the quercetin contained in them contributed to the normalization of blood glucose levels, increased glycogen content in the liver and insulin secretion by pancreatic β-cells by about 44-70%. Therefore, black cumin seeds have a potential anti-diabetic effect. In addition, in the rats tested, black cumin seeds proved to be effective in relieving diabetic osteopenia, which is one of the complications of diabetes.

Black seed for hypertension

Black seed macerates showed a strong inhibitory effect on heart rate and its contractility, stronger than the action of diltiazem - a drug used in arterial hypertension. On the other hand, volatile oil from black cumin seeds administered intravenously to rats contributed to the reduction of blood pressure.

Important

Black seed - dosage In medicine, ground seeds are used (usually half, 1 teaspoon at most, 2 times a day), as well as an infusion, decoction or tincture made of seeds.

Black seed for asthma

Clinical trials indicate that black seed can be used to treat asthma symptoms. 29 adult asthma patients participated in the 3-month study. A placebo was used in 14 of them, and the remaining 15 were administered 15 ml / kg 0.1%. black cumin seed extract. Allergy symptoms: asthma severity, seizure frequency, and wheezing in the group that received the extract decreased significantly on the second and third visits to the doctor. As a result, the doses of drugs used - in the form of inhalation (corticosteroids) and oral form (β-agonists, corticosteroids, theophylline) - in the study group could be significantly reduced compared to the control group.

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Black seed - use in cosmetics

Black cumin seeds should be reached by people who suffer from atopic dermatitis (AD), struggle with mycosis, psoriasis or juvenile acne. It is worth knowing that black cumin seeds, due to their protective effect against radiation, are used in the production of cosmetics.

Black seed for a runny nose and cough

Black cumin seeds in alternative medicine are used in diseases of the upper respiratory tract, especially in rhinitis, both in the course of infections and allergies. Studies have shown that the plant is more effective in treating hay fever than the commonly used antihistamine cetirizine that can cause side effects such as excessive sleepiness.

In addition, modern phytotherapy recommends the use of black cumin in the course of cough, catarrh and bronchitis. The essential oils contained in the seeds cause bronchodilation and thus support their work. In addition, a smaller amount of mucus and facilitate the coughing of the residual secretion.

Black seed for depression

Black seed also has a beneficial effect on the central nervous system - it shows, among others antidepressant properties. Its long-term use may contribute to the improvement of well-being, improvement of the processes of thinking, remembering and learning. Some studies suggest that it may even slow down the development of Alzheimer's disease.

This will be useful to you - Black seeds  use in the kitchen

Black cumin seeds initially have a bitter coffee-like flavor, which then turns into a spicy, spicy - pepper-like flavor. In addition, they have a characteristic spicy and nutmeg scent.

Black cumin seeds add expressiveness to lamb and poultry dishes, i.e. delicate meat. In addition, they go well with salads, pickles (seeds combined with honey create an interesting marinade for meat), as well as bread and cottage cheese. In addition, they give a unique aroma to home-made wines. Some people roast the black cumin seeds before adding them to their dishes to enhance its taste even more.

Black cumin goes well with other herbs such as thyme, coriander, and allspice. Due to the fact that the taste of black cumin seeds resembles pepper, they can replace the last seasoning in the kitchen. Such a change is recommended for people with a sensitive stomach, because Egyptian cumin does not irritate its mucosa.

It is worth knowing that black cumin seeds are an ingredient of some garam masala spice mixtures and are one of the five spices included in the panch phoron mixture. Traditionally, panch phorom is used to flavor beef, chicken, fish, lentils and other vegetables. It is often this spice that gives a specific flavor to Indian dishes.