Therapeutic Trials of Nigella sativa

Nigella sativa (NS) (Ranunculaceae family) is generally utilized as a therapeutic plant all over the world. The seeds of the plant have a long history of use in different frameworks of medicines and food. N. sativa seeds reveal a broad spectrum of pharmacological activities including immunopotentiation and antihistaminic, antiseptic, antiallergic, anti-hypertensive, anti-inflammatory, and antimicrobial activities. It is known as a source of thymoquinone (TQ), thymohydroquinone, dithymoquinone, p-cymene, carvacrol, 4-terpineol, t-anethol, sesquiterpene longifolene, nigellicimine and nigellicimine-N-oxide, α-pinene and thymol etc. Additionally, this is uncovered that the majority of therapeutic properties of this plant are due to the presence of thymoquinone which is a major bioactive component of the essential oil. 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 some important pharmacological studies 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.