QUICK SUMMARY
Black seed oil benefits come from the fatty oil pressed from Nigella sativa seeds, also called black cumin or black caraway. Unlike an essential oil, black seed oil contains fatty acids and can be used as a topical carrier oil. Seed oil, seed powder, extracts, and isolated thymoquinone are different preparations and should not be treated as interchangeable.
Human research suggests that Nigella sativa preparations may modestly support blood pressure, blood sugar, blood lipids, inflammatory markers, weight-management efforts, asthma control, and selected fatty-liver outcomes. Results vary by preparation, amount, population, and study quality.
Black seed oil also makes a unique carrier for essential oils because it dilutes and disperses concentrated oils, reduces evaporation, improves topical safety, supports penetration through the skin, and contributes beneficial compounds of its own. Internal use requires a dietary-grade product, appropriate dosing, and attention to medications and individual health needs.
In this article, we’ll explore black seed oil benefits, its role as a carrier oil, and wise ways to integrate it into your health routine. Clinical trials and medical research are helping us understand where this ancient food and traditional remedy may offer meaningful support and where the evidence remains preliminary.
Black seed oil, also known as Nigella sativa seed oil, has a rich history in Middle Eastern, North African, South Asian, and Islamic traditional medicine. Unlike an essential oil, it is a fatty oil pressed from the seeds. That means it can function as a carrier oil while contributing its own fatty acids and naturally occurring compounds.
One of the best-known compounds associated with black seed is thymoquinone. Laboratory and animal research has reported antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, and antitumor activity for thymoquinone. These findings help researchers explore possible mechanisms, but they do not prove that a bottle of black seed oil will produce the same effects in people.
Here’s the thing: black seed oil is not magic, and it does not need exaggerated promises to be valuable. It is a fascinating traditional food and remedy with a growing body of human research. Our goal is to use it with faith and wisdom, honoring the way God designed the body while being honest about what the evidence does and does not show.
Table of Contents
What Is Black Seed Oil?
Black seed oil, also called black cumin seed oil, is the fixed oil obtained from seeds of Nigella sativa L. It has a strong, slightly bitter flavor and a dark golden to amber color that varies by product and processing.
A fixed oil is different from an essential oil:
- Black seed oil contains fatty acids and other oil-soluble seed compounds. Depending on the label, it may be sold as food, a dietary supplement, or a topical carrier.
- An essential oil is a highly concentrated volatile aromatic extract with different dilution and dosing requirements.
- Black seed powder is ground whole seed and includes fiber and seed components not found in pressed oil.
- Black seed extract may be prepared with water, alcohol, or another solvent and standardized to selected compounds.
- Thymoquinone is one constituent and should not be used as a substitute name for the complete seed or oil.
These distinctions matter because research on seed powder cannot automatically prove the same effect for seed oil, and a laboratory experiment with isolated thymoquinone cannot establish that ordinary black seed oil treats the same condition in people.
Black seed oil can be applied to intact skin when tolerated or used to dilute essential oils. Products labeled for dietary use may also be taken internally according to the label or a properly developed protocol. Do not assume a cosmetic carrier oil is suitable for food or supplementation.
The National Institutes of Health LiverTox resource reports that black cumin has generally been well tolerated in published studies and has not been linked to clinically apparent liver injury. That is reassuring, but it does not mean every product, dose, or person is risk-free. (1)
You might also hear about Nigella sativa seed extract. This is slightly different from the oil we would use as a carrier oil. Extracts may concentrate certain constituents and can have different dosing, effects, and safety considerations.
Black seed powder is made by grinding the seeds. It can be used as a culinary spice, brewed in traditional preparations, or incorporated into supplements. A spoonful of ground seed, a capsule of standardized extract, and a teaspoon of pressed oil are not scientifically interchangeable.
Key Compounds in Black Seed Oil
Black seed oil contains a mixture of fatty acids and volatile and nonvolatile compounds. Its fatty-acid profile commonly includes linoleic acid, an omega-6 fat, and oleic acid, an omega-9 fat. Exact proportions vary with plant variety, growing conditions, extraction, storage, and product quality.
Thymoquinone is one of the best-known bioactive compounds in Nigella sativa. Preclinical research has found that it can influence inflammatory signaling, oxidative stress, cell survival, microbial growth, vascular function, and tumor biology. (2)
Much of the strongest mechanistic work uses isolated thymoquinone in cells or animals at exposures that do not directly represent ordinary use of cold-pressed black seed oil. These findings help explain why researchers continue to study the plant. They do not establish a universal human dose or prove that black seed oil prevents or cures disease.
The fatty acids in black seed oil also make it useful in topical formulations.
As we teach throughout Natural Living Family, a carrier oil does more than simply make an essential oil less concentrated. Carrier oils dilute and disperse essential oils, reduce evaporation, improve topical safety, help the oils spread and penetrate the skin, and can amplify the overall therapeutic effect of a thoughtfully formulated blend.
Black seed oil is especially interesting because the carrier itself brings its own fatty acids, thymoquinone, and other plant compounds to the formula.
Direct Answer: What Is Black Seed Oil Good For?
Black seed oil is most reasonably used as a culinary or dietary Nigella sativa product, a moisturizing topical oil, and a carrier for properly diluted essential oils. Human research suggests modest support for selected cardiometabolic markers, inflammatory biomarkers, weight measures, asthma control, and fatty-liver outcomes.
Evidence-Based Black Seed Oil Benefits
The health benefits of black seed oil are promising, but the evidence is not equally strong for every claim. Reviews frequently combine seed oil, powder, capsules, and extracts, so always check the exact preparation before deciding how directly a study applies to the bottle in your cabinet.
1. Blood Pressure and Cardiovascular Risk Factors
Clinical research suggests that Nigella sativa supplementation may produce modest improvements in blood pressure and several other cardiovascular risk markers.
A comprehensive 2025 systematic review and meta-analysis evaluated 82 studies involving 5,026 participants. Across the included trials, Nigella sativa supplementation was associated with improvements in systolic and diastolic blood pressure, fasting blood sugar, HbA1c, several cholesterol measures, triglycerides, inflammatory markers, weight measurements, and other cardiometabolic outcomes. The studies used a wide range of preparations, amounts, and treatment periods, so these findings apply to Nigella sativa supplementation broadly rather than proving that every black seed oil product will produce the same result. (3)
An earlier meta-analysis of 11 randomized controlled trials involving 860 people found average reductions of about 3.3 mmHg in systolic pressure and 2.8 mmHg in diastolic pressure compared with control groups. Interestingly, seed powder appeared to have a stronger blood-pressure effect than oil in those trials. (4)
That is exactly why preparation matters.
Black seed oil can complement nourishing food, movement, sleep, stress care, tobacco avoidance, and appropriate medical treatment. It should not be viewed as a substitute for prescribed blood-pressure, cholesterol, or heart medication.
For a deeper look at natural cardiovascular strategies, see our guide to essential oils for heart health.
2. Inflammatory and Antioxidant Markers
Inflammation is one of the areas where black seed has accumulated substantial human research.
A 2023 systematic review and meta-analysis included 20 randomized trials with 1,086 participants. Nigella sativa supplementation significantly improved several measured inflammatory and antioxidant biomarkers, including C-reactive protein, tumor necrosis factor-alpha, total antioxidant capacity, glutathione peroxidase, superoxide dismutase, and malondialdehyde. Interleukin-6 did not significantly improve in the pooled analysis. (5)
These are meaningful biological outcomes, but improving an inflammatory marker is not the same as proving that one oil treats every inflammatory disease.
Topically, black seed oil can be blended with properly diluted essential oils for a comforting massage. Persistent joint pain, unexplained swelling, or suspected inflammatory disease still deserves an accurate diagnosis and complete care plan.
3. Blood Sugar and Metabolic Health
Blood sugar is another area where the human evidence has grown considerably.
A 2024 systematic review and meta-analysis evaluated 30 randomized controlled trials of Nigella sativa supplementation in adults. The pooled results found significant reductions in fasting blood sugar and HbA1c, although results for insulin and HOMA-IR were not significant overall and there was substantial variation among the studies. (6)
Again, this research evaluated different Nigella sativa preparations rather than one standardized bottle of black seed oil.
This makes black seed a possible adjunct for metabolic wellness, but it does not replace nourishing meals, movement, sleep, glucose monitoring, or appropriate treatment for diabetes.
Anyone taking insulin or glucose-lowering medication should be especially careful when adding concentrated black seed supplements because combining interventions can lower glucose more than expected.
For more help connecting blood sugar, blood pressure, weight, and cardiovascular health, read our guide to essential oils for metabolic syndrome.
4. Asthma and Respiratory Support
Black seed has a long history of traditional respiratory use, and human trials have explored its role as an adjunct for asthma.
A meta-analysis of four randomized controlled trials found improvements in asthma-control scores and forced expiratory volume, although the evidence base was small. (7)
One of the most interesting trials specifically tested black seed oil. In a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study, 80 adults with asthma were assigned to black seed oil or placebo. The intervention used 500 mg black seed oil capsules twice daily for four weeks as supplemental therapy. The black seed oil group showed a statistically significant improvement in asthma-control scores and a reduction in blood eosinophils. Improvement in FEV1 did not reach statistical significance. (8)
That is encouraging human evidence, but black seed oil was used as supplemental support, not as rescue medicine.
Do not put black seed oil or essential oils into a nebulizer, CPAP machine, humidifier, or other respiratory medical device unless that specific device and protocol are designed for it.
Severe shortness of breath, blue lips, difficulty speaking, or asthma symptoms that are not responding to a rescue medication require urgent medical care.
5. Fatty Liver and Liver-Related Markers
Several clinical trials have evaluated Nigella sativa in people with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, now commonly called metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease.
A 2023 systematic review identified four randomized clinical trials. Three reported significant improvement in hepatic steatosis grade, and three reported significant reductions in liver enzymes. The authors also emphasized that more well-designed clinical trials are needed before firm conclusions can be made. (9)
A separate meta-analysis of eight randomized trials found a significant reduction in AST, while the reduction in ALT fell just short of statistical significance. Study results were highly variable. (10)
Not every oil trial has shown benefits. One randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study gave 44 people with fatty liver 1,000 mg of black seed oil daily for eight weeks. Researchers found no significant improvement in blood pressure, adiponectin, or leptin compared with placebo. (11)
That conflicting result matters. Benefits are not automatic and can depend on the preparation, dose, outcome measured, duration, and population.
Black seed supplementation may be a useful adjunct in a complete plan, but fatty liver still calls for an honest look at metabolic health, alcohol use, medications, nutrition, activity, sleep, and other contributing factors.
6. Cancer Research and Thymoquinone
Thymoquinone is one reason black seed receives so much attention in cancer research.
Laboratory and animal studies have reported effects on tumor-cell proliferation, apoptosis, angiogenesis, oxidative signaling, metastasis-related pathways, and other aspects of cancer biology. (12)
This is an area where we need to clearly distinguish exciting laboratory research from proven human treatment.
A 2025 review of thymoquinone and cancer research concluded that the lack of human studies remains a major gap. Researchers continue to investigate thymoquinone as a potential complement to existing cancer therapies, but clinical effectiveness, dosing, interactions, delivery, and long-term safety have not been established. (13)
In other words, preclinical cancer research is compelling enough to keep studying, but it does not establish black seed oil as a cancer treatment.
People undergoing cancer treatment should discuss concentrated supplements with their oncology team because natural compounds can affect drug metabolism, blood sugar, blood pressure, bleeding, and treatment tolerance.
7. Endothelial Function
The endothelium is the thin cellular lining inside your blood vessels. It helps regulate vessel relaxation, inflammation, blood pressure, and clotting.
Laboratory and animal research suggests that thymoquinone can influence vascular relaxation, oxidative stress, inflammatory signaling, and endothelial function. Human trials showing changes in blood pressure, glucose, lipids, and inflammatory markers add to the cardiovascular picture, but black seed oil itself has not been established as a treatment for endothelial dysfunction.
This is one reason I like black seed oil as part of a broader heart-health strategy, but it belongs beside the fundamentals, not in place of them.
Walking, resistance exercise, healthy blood pressure, healthy blood sugar, restorative sleep, tobacco avoidance, prayerful stress management, and a whole-food eating pattern remain foundational.
8. Supporting Healthy Weight-Loss Efforts
Black seed is also being studied for weight-management support.
A systematic review and meta-analysis of 11 placebo-controlled clinical trials found that Nigella sativa supplementation produced moderate reductions in body weight, BMI, and waist circumference. The researchers cautioned that the body-weight studies were heterogeneous and that more high-quality trials were needed. (14)
One particularly useful randomized trial followed 90 women with obesity between the ages of 25 and 50. Both groups followed a calorie-restricted diet, but one group also received 3 grams of black seed oil daily for eight weeks. Among the 84 women who completed the trial, the black seed oil group experienced greater reductions in weight and waist circumference than the placebo group. (15)
That gives us direct human evidence specifically for black seed oil, but notice the context: it was used alongside dietary change.
This lines up beautifully with what we have taught for years. No oil is a magic bullet.
Black seed oil may be one supportive tool when paired with sustainable eating, movement, sleep, stress care, prayer, and an honest look at the medical and emotional factors affecting weight.
9. Skin and Scalp Support
Black seed oil is increasingly used in skin and hair products because its fatty acids help condition the skin while Nigella sativa compounds have demonstrated anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial activity.
A 2022 systematic review examined 14 clinical studies involving 732 participants with skin conditions including acne, eczema, psoriasis, atopic dermatitis, vitiligo, and several other concerns. The authors found promising results across several applications but also substantial variation in the preparations and conditions studied. (16)
That distinction matters. A study of a particular Nigella sativa preparation does not automatically prove that ordinary black seed oil will treat every skin condition.
For everyday use, black seed oil can be a beautiful moisturizing carrier oil when your skin tolerates it.
Allergic contact dermatitis from topical black seed oil has been reported, so patch testing is wise if you have sensitive or reactive skin. (17)
Why Use Black Seed Oil as a Carrier Oil?
Black seed oil can be a powerful carrier because it does far more than give us something in which to dilute concentrated essential oils.
Its practical advantages include:
- Dilution: It lowers the concentration of essential oils applied to the skin and improves topical safety.
- Dispersion: It helps distribute a small amount of essential oil evenly across a larger area.
- Reduced evaporation: The fatty oil helps keep volatile essential-oil constituents on the skin longer than they would remain when used neat.
- Penetration: Carrier oils help essential oils move across the surface of the skin and can support dermal penetration of oil-soluble constituents.
- Skin conditioning: Black seed oil contributes fatty acids that can soften and moisturize dry skin.
- Therapeutic synergy: Because black seed oil contains bioactive compounds of its own, it can amplify the overall therapeutic value of an appropriately designed topical blend.
- Versatility: Its strong aroma and rich texture can be softened by blending it with lighter carriers such as jojoba or fractionated coconut oil.
This is one of the reasons carrier-oil selection matters. You are not merely watering down an essential oil. You are building a formula.
Black seed oil gives us an opportunity to pair the benefits of Nigella sativa with the properties of carefully selected essential oils.
How to Use Black Seed Oil With Essential Oils
Here are several ways we use black seed oil with essential oils while respecting the route and purpose of each preparation.
Heart Health Support Capsules
This preserved recipe combines black seed oil with essential oils in a medicinal internal-use protocol.
Heart Health Support Capsules
Quantity
Ingredients
- 2 drops essential oil (choose from lavender, cinnamon bark, clove bud, or fennel seed)
- Black seed oil to fill the rest of a vegan gel capsule
Instructions
- Place 2 drops of your chosen essential oil into a vegan gel capsule.
- Fill the remainder of the capsule with black seed oil.
- Close the capsule securely and take once or twice daily after meals.
Follow the recipe exactly. Do not substitute a diffuser blend, topical oil, or cosmetic-grade black seed oil for a product intended for internal use.
One important limitation of this existing recipe is that it does not specify a defined duration. I have preserved the recipe exactly as published, so do not assume that “once or twice daily” means indefinite daily use. Longer-term medicinal internal use should be individualized according to the essential oil selected, medications, health status, and purpose of the protocol.
Because the recipe offers a choice among different essential oils, the safety profile changes depending on the oil you choose. Cinnamon bark, clove bud, fennel seed, and lavender do not have identical interaction or dosing considerations.
Stop use if you develop significant digestive irritation, dizziness, faintness, unusual bleeding, an allergic reaction, or symptoms of low blood sugar or low blood pressure.
Topical Massage Oil for Inflammation
This massage oil uses black seed oil as a topical carrier for essential oils selected for joint and muscle comfort.
Topical Massage Oil for Inflammation
Quantity
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon black seed oil
- 5 drops lavender, copaiba, or frankincense essential oil
Instructions
- Mix the essential oil with black seed oil in a small glass bottle.
- Shake well to combine.
- Use this blend to massage areas of muscle tension or joint pain to reduce inflammation and soothe discomfort.
Apply only to intact skin and use a gentle massage. Stop if irritation develops.
This blend may support comfort after activity or during an occasional flare, but persistent or unexplained pain deserves a closer look at the underlying cause.
DIY Skin Soothing Serum
This serum combines black seed oil with essential oils in a moisturizing topical blend.
DIY Skin Soothing Serum
Quantity
Ingredients
- Black seed oil
- 3-5 drops tea tree or chamomile essential oil
Instructions
- Add 3-5 drops of tea tree or chamomile essential oil to black seed oil.
- Apply to inflamed or irritated skin to calm redness and moisturize.
Patch test before broader use. Avoid the eyes, mucous membranes, open wounds, infected skin, and areas with a severe or unexplained rash.
If your skin becomes increasingly red, itchy, swollen, painful, or irritated, stop using the blend.
Can I ingest essential oils?
Do not casually ingest essential oils in water or neat (undiluted). Internal use of essential oils requires proper dilution, product quality, dosing knowledge, and safety guidance. Learn more about how to ingest essential oils here.
Black Seed Oil Safety and Precautions
Black seed has been generally well tolerated in clinical studies, but “natural” never means that dose, route, medications, and individual health stop mattering.
Keep these practical guidelines in mind:
- Check the product route. Use a dietary-grade product for internal use. A topical or cosmetic carrier oil is not automatically appropriate for consumption.
- Know which preparation you are using. Seed oil, seed powder, extract, and isolated thymoquinone have different concentrations and cannot be dosed interchangeably.
- Follow a defined purpose and amount. There is no universal black seed oil dose for every condition.
- Watch blood sugar. Human research suggests that Nigella sativa can lower fasting glucose and HbA1c, so people using glucose-lowering medication should monitor carefully.
- Watch blood pressure. Black seed may modestly lower blood pressure, which matters when it is combined with antihypertensive medication.
- Be thoughtful about medications. Reviews have identified potential herb-drug interactions involving Nigella sativa and thymoquinone. This matters most with concentrated internal use, multiple prescriptions, or medications with a narrow therapeutic range. (2)
- Use extra care with bleeding concerns. Preclinical evidence has explored effects on platelets and coagulation. If you use anticoagulant or antiplatelet medication, have a bleeding disorder, or are preparing for a procedure, discuss medicinal supplementation with your healthcare team.
- Use caution during pregnancy and nursing. Culinary use of the seed as a spice is different from concentrated medicinal supplementation. Do not assume that a food history establishes the safety of high-dose oil or extract protocols.
- Get guidance for children. Do not scale down an adult medicinal internal protocol by guesswork.
- Patch test topical use. Allergic contact dermatitis has been reported with black seed oil. (17)
- Stop for adverse effects. Discontinue use if you develop a significant rash, swelling, persistent digestive upset, dizziness, faintness, or another concerning reaction.
Quality and sourcing: Choose a product that clearly identifies Nigella sativa, the plant part, extraction method, intended route, lot number, expiration date, and manufacturer.
Cold-pressed oil in a light-protective bottle is a practical choice when you want a minimally processed carrier. Organic certification can tell you something about farming practices, but it does not prove potency, purity, or clinical effectiveness.
Independent identity and contaminant testing is more useful than vague marketing claims such as “therapeutic grade” or “pure.” Store the oil according to the manufacturer's directions, usually tightly closed in a cool, dark place, and discard oil that smells noticeably rancid.
Black Seed Oil FAQs
What are the main benefits of black seed oil?
Black seed oil is most useful as a nutrient-rich carrier oil and as one form of Nigella sativa used in dietary supplementation. Human research on black seed preparations suggests modest support for blood pressure, blood sugar, cholesterol and triglycerides, inflammatory markers, weight management, asthma control, and selected fatty-liver outcomes. The benefit depends on the exact preparation, amount, duration, and person.
Is black seed oil the same as black cumin essential oil?
No. Black seed oil is a fatty fixed oil pressed from Nigella sativa seeds. An essential oil is a concentrated volatile extract. They have different chemistry, dosing, uses, and safety requirements.
Is black seed oil a good carrier oil?
Yes. Black seed oil dilutes and disperses essential oils, reduces evaporation, supports topical safety and penetration, moisturizes the skin, and contributes its own fatty acids and plant compounds. Its aroma and texture are stronger than many carrier oils, so it can also be blended with jojoba, olive, or fractionated coconut oil.
Can I take black seed oil every day?
Some clinical trials have used daily black seed oil for defined periods ranging from several weeks to several months. That does not establish indefinite daily use for everyone. Follow the amount and duration appropriate to the specific product or protocol rather than assuming longer is always better.
How much black seed oil should I take?
There is no universal dose because studies have used different oils, powders, extracts, amounts, populations, and durations. Use the amount specified by a reputable dietary product or a complete condition-specific protocol rather than borrowing a dose from a study of a different preparation.
Does black seed oil lower blood pressure?
Research on Nigella sativa suggests modest reductions in blood pressure. An earlier meta-analysis found stronger effects from seed powder than oil, while the larger 2025 analysis found improvements across a broader range of Nigella sativa preparations. (3, 4)
Does black seed oil lower blood sugar?
A 2024 meta-analysis of 30 randomized controlled trials found significant reductions in fasting blood sugar and HbA1c with Nigella sativa supplementation, although there was substantial variation among studies. (6) People taking diabetes medication should account for the possibility of an additive glucose-lowering effect.
Can black seed oil help fatty liver?
Small randomized trials and systematic reviews suggest possible improvements in fatty-liver grade and selected liver markers, but findings are not completely consistent and larger trials are needed. (9, 10, 11)
Can black seed oil treat cancer?
Human evidence does not establish black seed oil as a cancer treatment. Thymoquinone has shown impressive antitumor activity in laboratory and animal models, but recent reviews continue to identify the lack of human clinical evidence as a major research gap. (12, 13)
Can I use black seed oil on my face?
Black seed oil can be used topically when tolerated. Patch test a small area first and use it sparingly if you have sensitive skin. Stop for burning, itching, rash, or swelling, and keep essential-oil blends away from the eyes.
Does black seed oil grow hair?
Black seed oil can condition the scalp and hair, and Nigella sativa preparations have been studied for several skin conditions. Current research does not establish black seed oil as a treatment for the many different medical causes of hair loss.
Who should be especially careful with black seed oil supplements?
People taking diabetes medication, blood-pressure medication, anticoagulants, antiplatelet drugs, or multiple prescriptions should use extra care with concentrated medicinal supplementation. Pregnancy, nursing, childhood, bleeding disorders, upcoming surgery, and previous reactions to black seed are also situations where individualized guidance is wise.
Final Thoughts on Black Seed Oil Benefits
Black seed oil is a versatile carrier oil and traditional remedy with a growing body of human research. Its story is more compelling when we tell it accurately.
We now have systematic reviews, meta-analyses, and randomized controlled trials exploring Nigella sativa for cardiometabolic health, inflammation, blood sugar, asthma, weight, fatty liver, and skin concerns. At the same time, preparation matters. Seed oil is not seed powder. A whole seed is not an extract. And neither should be confused with isolated thymoquinone.
As a carrier oil, black seed oil is one of my favorite examples of why your carrier matters. It dilutes and disperses essential oils, reduces evaporation, improves topical safety, helps penetration, and contributes therapeutic plant compounds of its own.
Use it wisely. Choose the right preparation. Match the route to the purpose. Keep topical essential oils properly diluted. Use medicinal internal protocols for a defined reason rather than assuming they should continue indefinitely.
Most importantly, keep black seed oil in its proper place. It can support the abundant life, but it cannot build that life for you. Nourishing food, clean water, movement, sleep, prayer, healthy relationships, stress stewardship, and wise health care remain the foundation.
God has given us remarkable plants to study and use. Good stewardship means receiving those gifts with gratitude, testing claims carefully, and refusing both fear and hype.
For more information on related metabolic concerns, see our guide to essential oils for metabolic syndrome and our comprehensive report on essential oils for heart health.
References
- National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases. “Black Cumin Seed.” LiverTox: Clinical and Research Information on Drug-Induced Liver Injury. Updated April 27, 2023. NCBI Bookshelf.
- Hannan MA, Rahman MA, Sohag AAM, et al. “Black Cumin (Nigella sativa L.): A Comprehensive Review on Phytochemistry, Health Benefits, Molecular Pharmacology, and Safety.” Nutrients. 2021;13(6):1784. doi:10.3390/nu13061784.
- Jafari A, Mardani H, Faghfouri AH, et al. “Does Nigella sativa Supplementation Improve Cardiovascular Disease Risk Factors? A Comprehensive GRADE-Assessed Systematic Review and Dose-Response Meta-Analysis of 82 Randomized Controlled Trials.” Pharmacological Research. 2025;219:107882. doi:10.1016/j.phrs.2025.107882.
- Sahebkar A, Soranna D, Liu X, et al. “A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials Investigating the Effects of Supplementation With Nigella sativa (Black Seed) on Blood Pressure.” Journal of Hypertension. 2016;34(11):2127-2135. doi:10.1097/HJH.0000000000001049.
- Kavyani Z, Musazadeh V, Golpour-Hamedani S, et al. “The Effect of Nigella sativa (Black Seed) on Biomarkers of Inflammation and Oxidative Stress: An Updated Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials.” Inflammopharmacology. 2023;31(3):1149-1165. doi:10.1007/s10787-023-01213-0.
- Shirvani S, Falahatzadeh M, Oveili E, et al. “The Effect of Nigella sativa Supplementation on Glycemic Status in Adults: An Updated Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials.” Prostaglandins & Other Lipid Mediators. 2024;174:106885. doi:10.1016/j.prostaglandins.2024.106885.
- Han A, Shi D. “The Efficacy of Nigella sativa Supplementation for Asthma Control: A Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Studies.” Advances in Dermatology and Allergology. 2021;38(4):561-565. doi:10.5114/ada.2020.93220.
- Koshak A, Wei L, Koshak E, et al. “Nigella sativa Supplementation Improves Asthma Control and Biomarkers: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Trial.” Phytotherapy Research. 2017;31(3):403-409. doi:10.1002/ptr.5761.
- Mohtashamian A, Ebrahimzadeh A, Shamekhi Z, Sharifi N. “Nigella sativa Supplementation and Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease: A Systematic Review of Clinical Trials.” Avicenna Journal of Phytomedicine. 2023;13(1):18-33. Source.
- Azizi N, Amini MR, Djafarian K, Shab-Bidar S. “The Effects of Nigella sativa Supplementation on Liver Enzymes Levels: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials.” Clinical Nutrition Research. 2021;10(1):72-82. doi:10.7762/cnr.2021.10.1.72.
- Rashidmayvan M, Vandyousefi S, Barati M, et al. “The Effect of Nigella sativa Supplementation on Cardiometabolic Outcomes in Patients With Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver: A Randomized Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Trial.” Complementary Therapies in Clinical Practice. 2022;48:101598. doi:10.1016/j.ctcp.2022.101598.
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- “Targeting Cancer Through Thymoquinone: From Molecular Mechanisms to Clinical Prospects.” 2025. PubMed.
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