Nigella sativa, also known as Black seed or black cumin is an annual flowering plant in the genus Ranunculaceae. The plant is native to South and Southwest Asia. It grows 20-30 cm tall and has leaves that are finely divided and linear.

Black seed has remarkable health benefits. Some are listed below.

BLOOD PRESSURE

Being higher in potassium than any other oil seeds, black seeds work efficiently to lower bloodpressure. Recent studies have suggested that a high potassium diet may be equally as beneficial in lowering bloodpressure as a low sodium one.

KILL ANTIBIOTIC RESISTANT BACTERIA

In a study conducted in Jawahirlal Nehru College 144 strains of bacteria which were resistant to most of the antibiotics, 97 of them were inhibited by black seed oil.

CANCER PROTECTION

Black seed is rich in antioxidant phytochemicals thymoquinone and thymohydroquinone, whose anti tumor activity has shown to decrease tumor cells by 52%

Black seed is unique in its ability to prevent and treat cancers in numerous ways. And has shown positive result in prostate, colon, pancreatic and lung cancers.

Black seed is also known to diminish chemotherapy induced toxicity.

DIABETES

Researches have shown that Black seed oil can cause partial regeneration of pancreatic beta cells and has show to improve insulin production as well as reduce serum glucose.

Black seed oil has shown an impressive result in improving glucose tolerance as well as the most comonly prescribed drug for type 2 diabetes called Metformin.

Black seed oil consumption is devoid of side effects which metformin usually brings like bloating, headaches, stomach ache, muscle pain and metallic taste in mouth.