NIGELLA SATIVA PLEIOTROPISM: A MOMENTARY GAWK

Shadan Afrin*, Jagdeep Kaur, M. U. Khan, Habibullah Khalilullah and Gamal Osman

ABSTRACT

Nigella sativa (N. sativa) (Family Ranunculaceae) have been used for thousands of years as a curative remedy for various disorders. N. sativa seed reveal a broad spectrum of pharmacological activities including immuno-stimulants, anti-histaminic, anti-diabetic, anti-hypertensive, anti-inflammatory, and anti-microbial activities. It is known as a source of thymoquinone, thymohydroquinone, dithymoquinone, p-cymene, carvacrol, 4-terpineol, t-anethol, sesquiterpene longifolene, nigellicimine and nigellicimine-N-oxide, α-pinene and thymol etc. The incalculable medicinal properties and therapeutic uses of N. sativa prove its importance as a valuable medicinal plant. The aim of this review is to summarize important pharmacological potentials and phytochemical investigations on N. sativa and isolated principles, which can be investigated further to get novel molecules in the search of novel herbal drugs.

Keywords: Nigella sativa, Medicinal plant, Phyto-constituent, Pharmacological activity.