Herb Of The Week - Black Cumin - Excerpt: Natural Approach to Hypertension

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This is an excerpt from " Natural Approach to Hypertension " by Farhang

Khosh, ND, Mehdi Khosh, ND

 

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Chris (list mom)

http://www.alittleolfactory.com

 

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<http://www.nutrition-education.com/100292.php>

http://www.nutrition-education.com/100292.php

 

Black Cumin Seeds (Nigella sativa)

 

Nigella sativa (Ranunculaceae) has a long history of use in folk

medicine as a diuretic and hypotensive agent. In an animal study, an

oral dose of either Nigella sativa extract (0.6 mL/kg/day) or furosemide

(5 mg/kg/day) significantly increased diuresis by 16- and 30 percent,

respectively, after 15 days of treatment. In the same rat study, a

comparison between Nigella sativa and nifedipine found mean arterial

pressure decreased by 22- and 18 percent in the Nigella sativa and

nifedipine treated rats, respectively.62

 

The essential oil of Nigella sativa seed has an antioxidant property

that makes it useful in treating cardiovascular disorders. Active

constituents of Nigella sativa are thymoquinone, dithymoquinone,

thymohydroquinone, thymol,63 carvacrol, t-anethole and 4-terpineol.

Hypotensive action of Nigella is mainly due to its volatile oils. An

animal study found the volatile oil has the potential of being a potent,

centrally acting antihypertensive agent.64 Thin-layer chromatography

(TLC) has confirmed Nigella's antioxidant properties.65

 

 

 

62. Zaoui A, Cherrah Y, Lacaille-Dubois MA, et al. Diuretic and

hypotensive effects of Nigella sativa in the spontaneously hypertensive

rat. Therapie 2000;55:379-382. [Article in French]

 

64. el Tahir KE, Ashour MM, al-Harbi MM. The cardiovascular actions of

the volatile oil of the black seed (Nigella sativa) in rats: elucidation

of the mechanism of action. Gen Pharmacol 1993;24:1123-1131.

 

65. Burits M, Bucar F. Antioxidant activity of Nigella sativa essential

oil. Phytother Res 2000;14:323-328.