This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration.
This information is for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always consult your healthcare provider before using herbs, especially if you are pregnant, nursing, taking medications, or have a medical condition.
This herb is NOT recommended during pregnancy due to potential risks to the developing fetus.
This herb is NOT recommended while breastfeeding as effects on infants are unknown.
Consult your healthcare provider before use.
2 Known Drug Interactions — Some May Be Serious
2 Moderate
This herb may interact with medications you are taking. Review the interactions table below and consult your healthcare provider before use.
What is a herb–drug interaction?
A herb–drug interaction happens when a plant or supplement changes how a medication works in your body — making it stronger, weaker, or more likely to cause harm. Herbs contain active compounds that can speed up or slow down the enzymes and transporters your body uses to process drugs.
Why it matters
•St. John's Wort can make birth control, antidepressants, and blood thinners less effective.
•Garlic can increase bleeding risk with warfarin and other blood thinners (also ginkgo, ginger, and turmeric).
•Kava can amplify sedation when taken with anxiety or sleep medications (also valerian).
The risk is highest for older adults, anyone taking several medications, and people with chronic conditions.
Always tell your doctor and pharmacist about every herb and supplement you take — and check below before combining.
Black seed has blood sugar-lowering properties that may be additive with metformin.
This list reflects a curated subset of documented interactions and is not exhaustive. The absence of a drug here is not proof that it is safe to combine. Always confirm with a pharmacist or healthcare provider.
Black seed works primarily through its active compound, thymoquinone, which provides potent antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects. Thymoquinone helps modulate the immune system by suppressing pro-inflammatory cytokines and influencing T-cell activity. Evidence Level B suggests these mechanisms support respiratory health and reduce oxidative stress, making it effective for conditions involving inflammation and immune dysfunction.
Does black seed interact with medications?
Yes, black seed has potential interactions with medications for blood pressure and blood clotting. Because it naturally lowers blood pressure, combining it with antihypertensive drugs may cause hypotension. It may also increase bleeding risk when taken with anticoagulants like warfarin. Patients on these medications should consult a healthcare provider before use.
What is the recommended daily dosage for black seed?
The standard adult dosage is 1-3 grams of crushed seeds daily or 200-600 mg of black seed oil. For standardized extracts, a dosage of 200 mg of thymoquinone daily is common. It is advisable to take black seed with food to reduce the likelihood of gastrointestinal upset.
Is black seed safe to take during pregnancy?
No, black seed is considered unsafe during pregnancy. Evidence suggests it can stimulate uterine contractions, potentially resulting in miscarriage or premature labor. Pregnant women should avoid medicinal doses of black seed oil or extracts. While culinary amounts may be less risky, professional medical advice is strongly recommended before any use during pregnancy.
What are the main health benefits of black seed?
Black seed is traditionally used for immune support, digestive health, and respiratory conditions. Research with Evidence Level B supports its efficacy in reducing inflammation, acting as an antioxidant, and modulating immune response. It is frequently used to support respiratory health, manage pain, and promote general well-being as a daily tonic.
PubMed-compiled information sheet
This sheet was compiled from PubMed (NIH) abstracts using AI assistance. Every factual claim is cited to a real PubMed article (see the source list). It has not yet been human-reviewed — confirm with a healthcare provider before use.
Compiled from 28 PubMed articles · model: gemma4:31b
Summary
Black seed (Nigella sativa) is a nutraceutical herb with pleiotropic pharmacological effects, primarily attributed to its bioactive component thymoquinone [PMID:34073784, PMID:38398007].
Background
Nigella sativa, also known as black cumin or black seed, is an annual flowering plant of the Ranunculaceae family native to Eastern Europe, the Middle East, and Western Asia [PMID:37184195, PMID:22911452, PMID:36815641].
Traditional uses
Historically used as a spice, food preservative, and traditional medicine for conditions including headaches, fever, gastric complaints, rheumatism, and as a galactogogue in India, Türkiye, and the Middle East [PMID:37184195, PMID:37507880, PMID:38398007].
Active compounds
The primary bioactive component is thymoquinone (TQ) [PMID:34073784, PMID:38398007]. Other constituents include thymohydroquinone, dithymoquinone (nigellone), thymol, carvacrol, flavonoids, essential fatty acids, and various terpenes [PMID:37184195, PMID:40530399, PMID:22083982, PMID:36815641].
Mechanism of action
Nigella sativa attenuates oxidative stress and inflammation, promotes immunity, and modulates inflammatory mediators such as TNF-α, IFN-γ, NF-kB, COX, LOX, and interleukins [PMID:34073784, PMID:35972596]. Thymoquinone specifically may induce apoptosis and control the Akt pathway in anticancer activity [PMID:22754079].
Clinical evidence
Evidence BMetabolic Syndrome
Consumption of 3 g/day of black seed powder for 12 weeks showed improvement in biochemical indices of metabolic syndrome [PMID:38892617]
Evidence ADiabetes Mellitus
Evidence indicates beneficial effects on glucose homeostasis and lipid profiles in patients with diabetes mellitus [PMID:25847566]
Evidence CDyslipidemia
Seed powder, oil, and thymoquinone were shown to reduce plasma levels of total cholesterol, LDL-C, and triglycerides [PMID:26134064]
Evidence DObesity-related conditions
Human subjects showed lipid-lowering properties, while in vitro models showed reduced lipid accumulation in preadipocytes [PMID:40905014]
Safety & adverse effects
Generally recognized as safe and well tolerated, with no association with serum enzyme elevations or clinically apparent liver injury [PMID:37184195, PMID:26134064]. Some reports describe allergic reactions in humans [PMID:34838871].
Pregnancy & lactation
Used orally as galactogogues in some regions, but no scientifically valid clinical trials support this use in humans; one study showed a slight increase in serum prolactin but no evidence of growth promotion in infants [PMID:37184195].
Dosage & administration
Reported doses include seed powder (100 mg-20 g daily), seed oil (20-800 mg daily), and thymoquinone (3.5-20 mg daily) [PMID:26134064]. Consult a healthcare provider.
Evidence summary
The evidence is primarily based on review articles and preclinical studies (Level C/D), with some supporting systematic reviews (Level A) and randomized controlled trials (Level B) specifically for metabolic and diabetic parameters.
PubMed sources
1.PMID: 34073784 (2021) — Black Cumin (Nigella sativa L.): A Comprehensive Review on Phytochemistry, Health Benefits, Molecular Pharmacology, and Safety. · Nutrients
2.PMID: 37184195 (2012) — Nigella sativa: A Comprehensive Review of Its Therapeutic Potential, Pharmacological Properties, and Clinical Applications. · International journal of molecular sciences
3.PMID: 39807848 (2025) — A Comprehensive Review of the Antioxidant, Antimicrobial, and Therapeutic Efficacies of Black Cumin (Nigella sativa L.) Seed Oil and Its Thymoquinone. · Journal of medicinal food
4.PMID: 24111621 (2013) — Antidiabetic oils. · Current diabetes reviews
5.PMID: 37551386 (2020) — Nigella sativa (black seed) safety: an overview. · Asian biomedicine : research, reviews and news
Government sources
No direct government monograph is available for this herb. The content below is AI-generated and has not been verified against an authoritative government source. Use the search links to check official sources before relying on this information.
6.PMID: 40530399 (2025) — Role of Nigella sativa L. seed (black cumin) in preventing photoaging (Review). · Biomedical reports
7.PMID: 22911452 (2013) — Cardiovascular benefits of black cumin (Nigella sativa). · Cardiovascular toxicology
8.PMID: 37507880 (2023) — The Immunomodulatory Effect of Nigella sativa. · Antioxidants (Basel, Switzerland)
9.PMID: 37469646 (2023) — Black Seeds (Nigella sativa) Medical Application and Pharmaceutical Perspectives. · Journal of pharmacy & bioallied sciences
10.PMID: 38398007 (2024) — The Use of Nigella sativa in Cardiometabolic Diseases. · Biomedicines
11.PMID: 28603137 (2017) — Review: Nigella sativa (Prophetic Medicine): A Review. · Pakistan journal of pharmaceutical sciences
12.PMID: 40905014 (2025) — Black Cumin Seed (Nigella sativa) Confers Anti-Adipogenic Effects in 3T3-L1 Cellular Model and Lipid-Lowering Properties in Human Subjects. · Food science & nutrition
13.PMID: 22754079 (2011) — Anticancer activities of Nigella sativa (black cumin). · African journal of traditional, complementary, and alternative medicines : AJTCAM
14.PMID: 29844772 (2017) — Black Seed (Nigella Sativa) and its Constituent Thymoquinone as an Antidote or a Protective Agent Against Natural or Chemical Toxicities. · Iranian journal of pharmaceutical research : IJPR
15.PMID: 26134064 (2015) — Ameliorative effects of Nigella sativa on dyslipidemia. · Journal of endocrinological investigation
16.PMID: 28236403 (2016) — Phytochemistry, pharmacology, and therapeutic uses of black seed (Nigella sativa). · Chinese journal of natural medicines
17.PMID: 34838871 (2022) — Assessment of black cumin (Nigella sativa L.) as a food ingredient and putative therapeutic agent. · Regulatory toxicology and pharmacology : RTP
18.PMID: 36815641 (2023) — Effects of Active Compounds of Nigella sativa in COVID-19: A Narrative Review. · Recent advances in anti-infective drug discovery
19.PMID: 30087794 (2017) — Review on Clinical Trials of Black Seed (Nigella sativa ) and Its Active Constituent, Thymoquinone. · Journal of pharmacopuncture
20.PMID: 31214267 (2019) — Nigella sativa L. (Black Cumin): A Promising Natural Remedy for Wide Range of Illnesses. · Evidence-based complementary and alternative medicine : eCAM
21.PMID: 22083982 (2011) — Anticancer activity of Nigella sativa (black seed) - a review. · The American journal of Chinese medicine
22.PMID: 38892617 (2024) — The Effect of Therapeutic Doses of Culinary Spices in Metabolic Syndrome: A Randomized Controlled Trial. · Nutrients
23.PMID: 29629288 (2018) — Natural therapeutic approach of Nigella sativa (Black seed) fixed oil in management of Sinusitis. · Integrative medicine research
24.PMID: 35972596 (2022) — Black Seed (Nigella sativa): A Favourable Alternative Therapy for Inflammatory and Immune System Disorders. · Inflammopharmacology
25.PMID: 32685234 (2020) — Prophetic Medicine-Nigella Sativa (Black cumin seeds) - Potential herb for COVID-19? · Journal of pharmacopuncture
26.PMID: 37786518 (2023) — Nigella sativa and its nano-mediated approach toward management of neurodegenerative disorders: A review. · Ibrain
27.PMID: 25847566 (2015) — Effects of black seed (Nigella sativa) on metabolic parameters in diabetes mellitus: a systematic review. · Complementary therapies in medicine