Nigella seed is composed of numerous vitamins, fixed and essential oils and active ingredients at a concentration level unique in the world.
The dominant active principle for which black cumin is renowned is thymoquinone. But this should not overshadow the exceptional composition of this seed, which is a central food in many traditional medicines.
It's not the only one.
Its composition will be broken down into 3 main elements: nutritional contributions, fixed oils and essential oils.
The nutritional composition of black cumin seed
In addition to its health benefits, nigella sativa has the advantage of providing a number of nutrients for the body that are essential.
While it doesn't dispense with a healthy, balanced diet, it does allow you to make your contribution, and not in the worst way.
In fact, it contains an impressive number of vitamins: A, B (B1, B2, B6, B9), E, PP, K1. In addition to carbohydrates, minerals are also amply represented, with iron, calcium, zinc, phosphorus, copper and potassium.
Each of these vitamins has its own particular characteristics.
Each of these elements will have its uses on our health and complement each other. We also find significant quantities of fats such as Omega-3, 6 and 9.
Fatty acids, such as omega-3, omega-6 and omega-9, are also present.
To get the most out of it, we consume black cumin in capsules for ingestions, in oil for the same reason and for topical application, and in solid shampoo for hair.
Fixed oils from black cumin seed
Fixed oils are those obtained by first cold pressing the nigella seed, which will therefore be present in nigella vegetable oil.
They will be used as cosmetics, skin, face and hair care; but also as natural remedies when ingested.
Here's a list of the different fixed oils it contains.
Nigella's unsaturated fatty acids
- Arachidonic: Contributes to skin health and inflammatory response.
- Eicosadienoic: Supports cardiovascular health and skin.
- Linoleic: Important for skin health and the skin barrier.
- Linolenic: Helps brain development and function.
- Oleic: Used to moisturize the skin and improve heart health.
- Palmitoleic: Supports skin health and metabolic functions.
- Palmitic: Used in cosmetics for its emollient properties.
- Stearic: Used in soaps and cosmetics as a thickening agent.
- Myristic: Used in skincare products for its foaming and emollient properties.
Other unclassifiable components
- Beta-sitosterol: May help reduce cholesterol and support prostate health.
- Cycloeucalenol: Potentially used for its anti-inflammatory properties.
- Cycloartenol: Used in cosmetics for its protective properties.
- Sterol esters: Used in cosmetics for their emollient effects.
- Sterol glucosides: Potentially beneficial for cardiovascular health and skin.
Essential oils present in black cumin
When we exploit the black cumin seed and obtain oil, we will derive a number of essential oils that will be beneficial to our health.
The best way to take full advantage of nigella's volatile compounds remains steam distillation, which will yield an essential oil.
Here's a listing of the essential oils present in habba sawda:
- Carvacrol, Thymol: present antimicrobial and antifungal activities. They can support digestion.
- α and β-pinene, d-Limonene: they can help relaxation. They support respiratory function.
- 4-Terpineol, T-anethole: they have antioxidant properties and can potentially improve oral health.
Longifolin and its other components (Nigellone, Thymohydroquinone, Dithymoquinone, D-Citronellol, P-Cymene) have anti-inflammatory potential and may support overall health.
A major essential oil of black cumin seed, thymoquinone is so atypical that it deserves special preferential treatment in a section dedicated to it.
Thymoquinone: the major active ingredient in black cumin
Thymoquinone is a natural compound that enables black cumin seed to provide us with numerous benefits.
Among its benefits, we note that it enables:
- Protect cells through its antioxidant power.
- Be an immune and anti-inflammatory support, with antibacterial and antifungal properties
- Manage pain and inflammation more easily through its antifungal action
- Have an impact on cardiovascular health through its hypoglycemic, hypotensive and cholesterol-lowering properties.
- Have an anti-tumor effect on cancer.
- Treat allergies and parasitic infections
- Act on neurological health through its anti-convulsive effect
If you're looking for a product rich in thymoquinone, there's no alternative to black cumin.
