Black seed oil is made from the seeds of the Nigella sativa fruit, which grows in Eastern Europe, the Middle East, and western Asia. Also known as black caraway, black cumin, black onion seed, and kalonji, the seeds have been used in remedies for a variety of health applications for centuries1,2. Oil from the seeds contain a wide variety of terpenes, thymoquinone, beta-elemene and other many constituents shown to have antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties2,3.

      In an animal model of MS, Nigella sativa seeds at a dose of 2.8 g/kg suppressed inflammation, enhanced remyelination in the brain, and reduced the generation of an autoimmune growth factor4,5. In another animal study, thymoquinone – an antioxidant compound isolated from the seed – was observed to be nearly 90% preventive and 50% curative of EAE, an animal version of MS6. In a study using a simple Nigella sativa seed solution, treatment was shown to protect the brain and spinal cord against oxidative stress induced by EAE7.

      Though formal human research has not yet been reported for black seed oil use in MS 8, application to other neurological conditions has been largely positive1. In children suffering from seizures, both a water extract of black seed (40 mg/kg/8 hours)9 and 1 mg per kg of active component thymoquinone10, in combination with antiepileptic drugs, were associated with a significant reduction in the frequency of seizures; however, intractable epilepsy (medication-resistant seizures) was not found to benefit11. In elderly individuals, memory and cognition were found to improve after 9 weeks of 500 mg black seed extract twice a day12. In adolescent boys aged 14 to 17 years, a 500-mg daily dose for four weeks was associated with improved cognition, mood, and anxiety13.

Daily use of black seed oil is generally considered to be safe. Various doses up to 5 ml (1 teaspoon) whole or 1080 mg extract have not been associated with significant negative effects in individuals without gastrointestinal disease. With preexisting stomach issues, nausea, bloating, and local burning sensation have been reported, and in carriers of the hepatitis C virus, low blood sugar and stomach pain were observed. In higher doses of 2000-2500 mg extract daily was associated with acute renal failure in individuals with diabetes, coronary artery disease, and hypertension (together), though this was suspected to have been due to contamination rather than the black seed itself1.

      Black seed has been used orally to stimulate breastmilk production in India and Iran; however, no scientifically valid clinical trials support this use in humans. No data exist on the excretion of any components of black seed into breastmilk or on the safety and efficacy of black seed in nursing mothers or infants14.

References

1. Tavakkoli A, Mahdian V, Razavi BM, Hosseinzadeh H. Review on Clinical Trials of Black Seed (Nigella sativa ) and Its Active Constituent, Thymoquinone. J Pharmacopuncture. Sep 2017;20(3):179-193. doi:10.3831/KPI.2017.20.021

2. Yimer EM, Tuem KB, Karim A, Ur-Rehman N, Anwar F. Nigella sativa L. (Black Cumin): A Promising Natural Remedy for Wide Range of Illnesses. Evid Based Complement Alternat Med. 2019;2019:1528635. doi:10.1155/2019/1528635

3. 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. May 24 2021;13(6)doi:10.3390/nu13061784

4. Fahmy HM, Noor, N.A., Mohammed, F.F., Elsayeda, A.A., Radwan, N.M. Nigella sativa as an anti-inflammatory and promising remyelinating agent in the cortex and hippocampus of experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis-induced rats. Journal of Basic and Applied Zoology. 2014;67(5):182-195. 

5. Noor NA, Fahmy HM, Mohammed FF, Elsayed AA, Radwan NM. Nigella sativa amliorates inflammation and demyelination in the experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis-induced Wistar rats. Int J Clin Exp Pathol. 2015;8(6):6269-86. 

6. Mohamed A, Waris HM, Ramadan H, Quereshi M, Kalra J. Amelioration of chronic relapsing experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (cr-eae) using thymoquinone – biomed 2009. Biomed Sci Instrum. 2009;45:274-9. 

7. Ozugurlu F, Sahin S, Idiz N, et al. The effect of Nigella sativa oil against experimental allergic encephalomyelitis via nitric oxide and other oxidative stress parameters. Cell Mol Biol (Noisy-le-grand). Sep 5 2005;51(3):337-42. 

8. Alam MZ. A review on plant-based remedies for the treatment of multiple sclerosis. Ann Pharm Fr. Sep 2023;81(5):775-789. doi:10.1016/j.pharma.2023.03.005

9. Akhondian J, Parsa A, Rakhshande H. The effect of Nigella sativa L. (black cumin seed) on intractable pediatric seizures. Med Sci Monit. Dec 2007;13(12):CR555-9. 

10. Akhondian J, Kianifar H, Raoofziaee M, Moayedpour A, Toosi MB, Khajedaluee M. The effect of thymoquinone on intractable pediatric seizures (pilot study). Epilepsy Res. Jan 2011;93(1):39-43. doi:10.1016/j.eplepsyres.2010.10.010

11. Shawki M, El Wakeel L, Shatla R, El-Saeed G, Ibrahim S, Badary O. The clinical outcome of adjuvant therapy with black seed oil on intractable paediatric seizures: a pilot study. Epileptic Disord. Sep 2013;15(3):295-301. doi:10.1684/epd.2013.0602

12. Bin Sayeed MS, Asaduzzaman M, Morshed H, Hossain MM, Kadir MF, Rahman MR. The effect of Nigella sativa Linn. seed on memory, attention and cognition in healthy human volunteers. J Ethnopharmacol. Jul 30 2013;148(3):780-6. doi:10.1016/j.jep.2013.05.004

13. Bin Sayeed MS, Shams T, Fahim Hossain S, et al. Nigella sativa L. seeds modulate mood, anxiety and cognition in healthy adolescent males. J Ethnopharmacol. Feb 27 2014;152(1):156-62. doi:10.1016/j.jep.2013.12.050

14. Black Seed. Drugs and Lactation Database (LactMed(R)). 2006.