Traditionally, black cumin seeds have been esteemed for their health benefits. A recent study examined their potential in alleviating symptoms related to obesity.
Ahmed et al. suggest that black cumin seeds (Nigella sativa) could be a promising natural remedy for obesity-related issues. Image credit: Andre Holz / CC BY-SA 3.0.
Nigella sativa, commonly known as black cumin, is a flowering plant in the Ranunculaceae family, widely used in traditional medicine across South Asia, North Africa, and the Mediterranean region.
Its healing properties are acknowledged in ancient medical systems like Unani, Ayurveda, and Tiv.
Rich in bioactive compounds such as alkaloids, flavonoids, and essential oils, black cumin seed and its oil demonstrate vast pharmacological potential.
Their diverse physicochemical properties make them valuable in both culinary and medicinal applications.
Studies with cell cultures and animals have shown the therapeutic benefits of black cumin and its active component thymoquinone, including antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, antidiabetic, antihypertensive, antitumor, immunomodulatory, and antiobesity effects.
To delve into these effects, Dr. Akiko Kojima Yuasa and colleagues from Osaka Metropolitan University conducted cell-based experiments and human clinical trials.
In the clinical trials, participants who ingested 5g of black cumin seed powder (around 1 tablespoon) daily for 8 weeks exhibited notable decreases in blood triglyceride levels, LDL (“bad”) cholesterol, and total cholesterol. Moreover, HDL (“good”) cholesterol levels saw an increase.
This improved blood lipid profile is linked to a reduced risk of heart disease and premature mortality.
The research team also performed cell experiments to clarify the mechanisms at play.
They discovered that black cumin seed extract inhibits adipogenesis (the formation and maturation of fat cells) by preventing lipid droplet accumulation and the differentiation process.
Dr. Yuasa Kojima remarked, “This study strongly indicates that black cumin seeds serve as a functional food in the prevention of obesity and lifestyle-related diseases.”
“We were thrilled to effectively demonstrate the significant blood lipid-lowering effects of black cumin in our human clinical trials.”
“We aspire to conduct long-term, extensive clinical trials to further investigate the effects of black cumin on metabolism.”
“We are particularly keen on exploring insulin resistance in diabetes and its influence on inflammatory markers.”
This study was published in the journal Food Science and Nutrition.
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Shamima Ahmed et al. 2025. Black Cumin Seed (Nigella sativa) 3T3-L1 exhibits anti-adipogenic effects in cellular models and hypolipidemic properties in humans. Food Science and Nutrition 13 (9): e70888; doi: 10.1002/fsn3.70888
Source: www.sci.news
