Wajeeha Begum

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.

Sandal safaid (Santalum album Linn.) is one of the most important medicinal Plants in the world.It is very well known since antiquity for its perfumery and medicinal properties worldwide. Greek physicians were aware of medicinal properties of sandal from the time of Alexander. They used it widely as qabiz (astringent), muffareh, muhallilawram (anti-inflammatory) and musaffikhoon (blood purifier). It is cultivated in many countries like Malaysia, Australia, New Zealand, India etc. but Indian variety is considered to be the best among all varieties. Seeds and wood is used to extract oil.The essential oil extracted from the wood is known as “East Indian sandal wood oil”. Chief constituent of oil is santalol (alpha and beta-santalol). It has been introduced into red list of threatened species as vulnerable.