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''Nigella'' is a genus of 18 species of
''Nigella'' is a genus of 18 species of annual plant
An annual plant is a plant that completes its life cycle, from germination to the production of seeds, within one growing season, and then dies. The length of growing seasons and period in which they take place vary according to geographical ...
s in the family Ranunculaceae, native to Southern Europe, North Africa, South Asia, Southwest Asia and Middle East. Common names applied to members of this genus are nigella, devil-in-a-bush or love-in-a-mist.
The species grow to tall, with finely divided leaves
A leaf (plural, : leaves) is any of the principal appendages of a vascular plant plant stem, stem, usually borne laterally aboveground and specialized for photosynthesis. Leaves are collectively called foliage, as in "autumn foliage", wh ...
; the leaf segments are narrowly linear to threadlike. The flowers are white, yellow, pink, pale blue or pale purple, with five to ten petals. The fruit is a capsule composed of several united follicles, each containing numerous seeds; in some species (e.g. ''Nigella damascena
''Nigella damascena'', love-in-a-mist, or devil in the bush, is an annual garden flowering plant, belonging to the buttercup family Ranunculaceae.
It is native to southern Europe (but adventive in more northern countries of Europe), north Afri ...
''), the capsule is large and inflated.
Uses
Culinary
The seeds of ''Nigella sativa
''Nigella sativa'' (black caraway, also known as black cumin, nigella, kalonji or siyahdaneh) is an annual flowering plant in the family Ranunculaceae, native to eastern Europe (Bulgaria and Romania) and Western Asia (Cyprus, Turkey, Iran and Ir ...
'', known as ''kalonji'', black cumin
Cumin ( or , or Article title
) (''Cuminum cyminum'') is a
) (''Cuminum cyminum'') is a
caraway, black
Several species are grown as ornamental plants in gardens. ''
Numerous studies have shown that it has anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidative, anti-mycotic, antibacterial, anti-fungal, anti-cancer, anti-viral, antihistamine properties, possessing many properties that make it a potential remedy against certain diseases.
Black cumin is used in naturopathy. Black cumin oil or powder are used in the treatment of pathologies such as skin diseases, muscle pain, eczema or psoriasis, but also acne, diabetes, asthma, A 2014 study showed its positive effects on the harmful effects of radiotherapy treatments.
Nigella oil contains almost 60% linoleic acid (
coriander
Coriander (;
, roman coriander, black onion seed, onion seed, charnushka, git (in historical Roman cuisine), or just nigella, are used as a spice and a condiment in South Asian
South Asia is the southern Subregion#Asia, subregion of Asia, which is defined in both geography, geographical and culture, ethno-cultural terms. The region consists of the countries of Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, ...
, Ethiopian, Middle Eastern
The Middle East ( ar, الشرق الأوسط, ISO 233: ) is a geopolitical region commonly encompassing Arabia (including the Arabian Peninsula and Bahrain), Asia Minor (Asian part of Turkey except Hatay Province), East Thrace (European ...
and Polish
Polish may refer to:
* Anything from or related to Poland, a country in Europe
* Polish language
* Poles, people from Poland or of Polish descent
* Polish chicken
*Polish brothers (Mark Polish and Michael Polish, born 1970), American twin screenwr ...
cuisines.
Garden flowers
Several species are grown as ornamental plants in gardens. ''Nigella damascena
''Nigella damascena'', love-in-a-mist, or devil in the bush, is an annual garden flowering plant, belonging to the buttercup family Ranunculaceae.
It is native to southern Europe (but adventive in more northern countries of Europe), north Afri ...
'' has been grown in English cottage gardens since the Elizabethan era, commonly called love-in-a-mist. '' Nigella hispanica'' is a taller species with larger blue flowers, red stamens, and grey leaves. Nigella seeds are self-sowing if the seed pods are left to mature.
The dried seed capsules can also be used in flower arrangements.
Use in healthcare
In traditional medicine, the seeds are used as acarminative A carminative, also known as carminativum (plural carminativa), is a herb or preparation intended to either prevent formation of gas in the gastrointestinal tract or facilitate the expulsion of said gas, thereby combatting flatulence.
Name
The wo ...
and stimulant
Stimulants (also often referred to as psychostimulants or colloquially as uppers) is an overarching term that covers many drugs including those that increase activity of the central nervous system and the body, drugs that are pleasurable and inv ...
to ease bowel and indigestion problems, and are given to treat intestinal worms, nerve defects, to reduce flatulence, and induce sweating. Dried pods are sniffed to restore a lost sense of smell. It is also used to repel some insects, much like mothballs.
Numerous studies have shown that it has anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidative, anti-mycotic, antibacterial, anti-fungal, anti-cancer, anti-viral, antihistamine properties, possessing many properties that make it a potential remedy against certain diseases.
Black cumin is used in naturopathy. Black cumin oil or powder are used in the treatment of pathologies such as skin diseases, muscle pain, eczema or psoriasis, but also acne, diabetes, asthma, A 2014 study showed its positive effects on the harmful effects of radiotherapy treatments.
Nigella oil contains almost 60% linoleic acid (omega 6
Omega-6 fatty acids (also referred to as ω-6 fatty acids or ''n''-6 fatty acids) are a family of polyunsaturated fatty acids that have in common a final carbon-carbon double bond in the ''n''-6 position, that is, the sixth bond, counting from ...
).
It is available in capsule, oil or powder form, with both internal and external uses (in massages).
In Silico study of 96 phytochemical
Phytochemicals are chemical compounds produced by plants, generally to help them resist fungi, bacteria and plant virus infections, and also consumption by insects and other animals. The name comes . Some phytochemicals have been used as poisons ...
compounds of Nigella sativa, identifying Nigelladine A as the most promising compound for SARS-CoV-2 inhibition with the highest docking scores for the spike protein and Mpro.
Thymoquinone
Thymoquinone is a phytochemical compound found in the plant ''Nigella sativa''. It is also found in select cultivated ''Monarda fistulosa'' plants which can be steam distilled to produce an essential oil.
It has been classified as a pan-assay i ...
is a phytochemical compound found in the plant Nigella sativa.
Dithymoquinone
Dithymoquinone is a bioactive isolate of ''Nigella sativa''. Chemically, it is a dimer of thymoquinone
Thymoquinone is a phytochemical compound found in the plant ''Nigella sativa''. It is also found in select cultivated ''Monarda fistulosa'' ...
, kaempferol, Nigelladine B, Nigelladine, and Nigelladine sulphate also showed high docking scores.
References
External links
{{Authority control Ranunculaceae genera