Nigella
Template:Short description {{#invoke:other uses|otheruses}} Template:Use dmy dates Template:Automatic taxobox
_Samenkapseln-20220613-RM-175240.jpg){kind=link}
Nigella is a genus of about 25 species of annual or biennial plants in the family Ranunculaceae, native to Macaronesia, southern and central Europe, North Africa, the Middle East, and Central Asia.<ref name="POWO_33199-1" >Template:Cite POWO</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Common names applied to members of this genus are nigella, devil-in-a-bush or love-in-a-mist.
The species grow to Template:Cvt tall, with finely divided leaves; the leaf segments are narrowly linear to threadlike. The flowers are white, yellow, pink, pale blue or pale purple, with five to ten petals. The fruit is a capsule composed of several united follicles, each containing numerous seeds; in some species (e.g. Nigella damascena), the capsule is large and inflated.
Uses
Culinary
Template:Further The seeds of Nigella sativa, known as kalonji, black cumin, black caraway, black coriander, roman coriander, black onion seed, onion seed, charnushka, git (in historical Roman cuisine),<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}Template:Self-published inline</ref> or just nigella, are used as a spice and a condiment in South Asian, Ethiopian, Middle Eastern and Polish cuisines.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>
Garden flowers
Several species are grown as ornamental plants in gardens. Nigella damascena has been grown in English cottage gardens since the Elizabethan era, commonly called love-in-a-mist. Nigella hispanica is a taller species with larger blue flowers, red stamens, and grey leaves. Nigella seeds are self-sowing if the seed pods are left to mature.
The dried seed capsules can also be used in flower arrangements.
Use in traditional medicine
In traditional medicine, the seeds are used as a carminative and stimulant to ease bowel and indigestion problems, and are given to treat intestinal worms, nerve defects, to reduce flatulence, and induce sweating. Dried pods are sniffed to restore a lost sense of smell. It is also used to repel some insects, much like mothballs.
Numerous studies have shown that it has anti-inflammatory,<ref>Template:Cite journal</ref> anti-oxidative,<ref>Template:Cite journal</ref> anti-mycotic, antibacterial,<ref>Template:Cite journal</ref><ref>Template:Cite journal</ref><ref>Template:Cite journal</ref> anti-fungal, anti-cancer,<ref>Template:Cite journal</ref><ref>Template:Cite journal</ref><ref>Template:Cite journal</ref><ref>Template:Cite journal</ref><ref>Template:Cite journal</ref> anti-viral, antihistamine properties, possessing many properties that make it a potential remedy against certain diseases.<ref>Template:Cite journal</ref>
Black cumin is used by naturopaths. Black cumin oil and powder are sold to people suffering from pathologies such as skin diseases, muscle pain, eczema or psoriasis,<ref>Template:Cite journal</ref> but also acne,<ref>Template:Cite journal</ref> diabetes, and asthma,<ref>Template:Cite journal</ref>