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Cumin (Cuminum cyminum) and black cumin (Nigella sativa) seeds: traditional uses, chemical constituents, and nutraceutical effects.

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Relation http://ir.cftri.com/13930/
https://dx.doi.org/10.1093/fqsafe/fyx031
 
Title Cumin (Cuminum cyminum) and black cumin
(Nigella sativa) seeds: traditional uses, chemical
constituents, and nutraceutical effects.
 
Creator Srinivasan, K.
 
Subject 04 Functional foods
30 Spices/Condiments
 
Description Although the seeds of cumin (Cuminum cyminum L.) are widely used as a spice for their distinctive
aroma, they are also commonly used in traditional medicine to treat a variety of diseases. The
literature presents ample evidence for the biomedical activities of cumin, which have generally
been ascribed to its bioactive constituents such as terpenes, phenols, and flavonoids. Those health
effects of cumin seeds that are experimentally validated are discussed in this review. Black seeds
(Nigella sativa), which are totally unrelated to C. cyminum, have nevertheless taken the name
‘Black cumin’ and used in traditional systems of medicine for many disorders. Numerous preclinical
and clinical trials have investigated its efficacy using the seed oil, essential oil, and its
main constituent thymoquinone (TQ). These investigations support its use either independently or
as an adjunct along with conventional drugs in respiratory problems, allergic rhinitis, dyspepsia,
metabolic syndrome, diabetes mellitus, inflammatory diseases, and different types of human
cancer. Multiple studies made in the last decades validate its health beneficial effects particularly
in diabetes, dyslipidemia, hypertension, respiratory disorders, inflammatory diseases, and cancer.
Nigella sativa seeds also possess immune stimulatory, gastroprotective, hepatoprotective,
nephroprotective, and neuroprotective activities. TQ is the most abundant constituent of volatile
oil of N. sativa seeds, and most of the medicinal properties of N. sativa are attributed mainly to TQ.
All the available evidence suggests that TQ should be developed as a novel drug in clinical trials.
 
Date 2018
 
Type Article
PeerReviewed
 
Format pdf
 
Language en
 
Identifier http://ir.cftri.com/13930/1/Food%20Quality%20and%20Safety%20Volume%20issue%202018%20%5Bdoi%2010.1093%252Ffqsafe%252Ffyx031%5D%20Srinivasan%2C%20Krishnapura%20--%20Cumin%20%28Cuminum%20cyminum%29%20and%20black%20cumin%20%28Nigella%20sativa%29%20seeds-%20traditional%20uses%2C%20chemical%20constitu.pdf
Srinivasan, K. (2018) Cumin (Cuminum cyminum) and black cumin (Nigella sativa) seeds: traditional uses, chemical constituents, and nutraceutical effects. Food Quality and Safety. pp. 1-16.