Nigella sativa: Potent Medicinal Seed of Unani Medicine

Nigella sativa (Black seed) is a plant which has been used for centuries for medicinal and culinary purposes and reported to possess a number of pharmacological properties that include anti-parasitic, antibacterial, antifungal, antiviral, antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities. Its oil is used as condiment, carminative, food preservative, analgesic and to treat many ailments in different parts of world. It has been extensively used in Unani system of medicine as a natural remedy for a number of diseases such as asthma, inflammation, cough, eczema, fever and gastrointestinal disturbances. It also has galactagogue, abortifacient, emmenagogue and uterotonic activity which makes it useful in amenorrhoea, dysmenorrhoea, puerperal sepsis and to improve lactation. Many active principles have been isolated from Nigella sativa seed including thymoquinone, nigellone, and fixed oils. This review is an attempt to highlight the therapeutic uses of Nigella sativain Unani medicine and pharmacological properties.