Nigella sativa:Phytochemistry, Pharmacology and its Therapeutic Potential

Nigella sativa belonging to family ranunculaceae. This plant is an extensively used as medicinal plant in India as well as all over the world. Nigella sativa (N. sativa) is well known plant of traditional systems of medicine such as Ayurveda, Siddha and Unani. It is also known as nutmeg flower, black seed, black cumin, black caraway, fennel flower, roman coriander, and kalonji. Alkaloids, phenols, flavonoids, glycosides, terpenoids and steroids are the important phyto constituents of N. sativa. The active constituents of N. sativa are thymohydroquinone, p-cymene, dithymoquinone, thymoquinone, carvacrol, sesquiterpene longifolene. N. sativa seed also contains pentacyclic triterpene, alpha-hederin, protein, carbohydrates, crude fibre, fat and saponin. N. sativa oil contains oleic acid, palmitic acid, linoleic acid. Aromatics contain α-thujene, thymol, α-pinene, thymoquinone, dihydrothymoquinone. N. sativa has been used as stimulant, emmenagogue, appetizer, pungent, anthelmintic, pungent, deodorant, carminative, purgative, expectorant, febrifuge, deodorant etc. N. sativa possess numerous pharmacological action such as antibacterial, antifungal, anticancer, hepatoprotective, antioxidant, antiinflammatory, analgesic, immunomodulatory, antidiabetic, dyslipidemia, antiepileptic, gastroprotective, antioxytocic, anti-fertility, respiratory, dermatological, nephroprotective, antiviral, testicular-protective, antidepressant and anticonvulsant activity. So considering the medicinal value and its therapeutic potential this review article would spotlight on phytochemistry, chemical composition and pharmacological activity of N. sativa.