View source for Nigella

{{Short description|Genus of annual plants}}
{{Other uses}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2025}}
{{Automatic taxobox
| image = Nigella damascena Dark Blue.jpg
| image_caption = ''[[Nigella damascena]]''
| display_parents = 2
| taxon = Nigella
| authority = [[Carl Linnaeus|L.]]
| subdivision_ranks = Species
| subdivision = 
*''[[Nigella arvensis]]'' {{small|L.}}
*''[[Nigella bucharica]]'' {{small|Schipcz.}}
*''[[Nigella carpatha]]'' {{small|Strid}}
*''[[Nigella ciliaris]]'' {{small|DC.}}
*''[[Nigella damascena]]'' {{small|L.}}
*''[[Nigella degenii]]'' {{small|Vierh.}}
*''[[Nigella deserti]]'' {{small|Boiss.}}
*''[[Nigella doerfleri]]'' {{small|Vierh.}}
*''[[Nigella elata]]'' {{small|Boiss.}}
*''[[Nigella fumariifolia]]'' {{small|Kotschy}}
*''[[Nigella gallica]]'' {{small|Jord.}}
*''[[Nigella hispanica]]'' {{small|L.}}
*''[[Nigella icarica]]'' {{small|Strid}}
*''[[Nigella integrifolia]]'' {{small|Regel}}
*''[[Nigella koyuncui]]'' {{small|Dönmez & Uğurlu}}
*''[[Nigella nigellastrum]]'' {{small|(L.) Willk.}}
*''[[Nigella orientalis]]'' {{small|L.}}
*''[[Nigella oxypetala]]'' {{small|Boiss.}}
*''[[Nigella papillosa]]'' {{small|G.López}}
*''[[Nigella sativa]]'' {{small|L.}}
*''[[Nigella segetalis]]'' {{small|M.Bieb.}}
*''[[Nigella stellaris]]'' {{small|Boiss.}}
*''[[Nigella stricta]]'' {{small|Strid}}
*''[[Nigella turcica]]'' {{small|Dönmez & Mutlu}}
*''[[Nigella unguicularis]]'' {{small|(Poir.) Spenn.}}
}}
[[File:Jungfer im Grünen (Nigella damascena) Samenkapseln-20220613-RM-175240.jpg|thumb|''Nigella damascena'' seed capsule]]
'''''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" >{{cite POWO |id=33199-1 |title=''Nigella'' L. |access-date=12 November 2025 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.theplantlist.org/1.1/browse/A/Ranunculaceae/Nigella/ |title=Nigella |website=The Plant List |access-date=27 April 2020 }}</ref> Common names applied to members of this genus are '''nigella''', '''devil-in-a-bush''' or '''love-in-a-mist'''.

The species grow to {{cvt|20|to|90|cm|in|0}} 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 [[Follicle (fruit)|follicles]], each containing numerous seeds; in some species (e.g. ''[[Nigella damascena]]''), the capsule is large and inflated.

== Uses ==
[[Image:Nigella seeds.jpg|thumb|Nigella seeds]]

===Culinary===
{{Further|Nigella sativa}}
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 [[Ancient Rome#Cuisine|Roman cuisine]]),<ref>{{cite web |url=https://tavolamediterranea.com/2019/08/16/2019-08-09-bread-for-the-gods-taralli/ |title=Baking with the Romans--The Key Ingredient: Git |last=Monaco |first=Farrel |date=17 August 2019}}{{self-published inline|date=March 2023 }}</ref> or just nigella, are used as a [[spice]] and a [[condiment]] in [[South Asian cuisine|South Asian]], [[Ethiopian cuisine|Ethiopian]], [[Cuisine of the Middle East|Middle Eastern]] and [[Polish cuisine]]s.<ref>{{cite book |doi=10.1533/9781855738355.2.206 |chapter=Nigella |title=Handbook of Herbs and Spices |year=2004 |last1=Malhotra |first1=S.K. |pages=206–214 |isbn=978-1-85573-721-1 |editor1-last=Peter |editor1-first=K. V. |chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=VRWkAgAAQBAJ&pg=PA206 }}</ref>

===Garden flowers===
[[Image:Smithsoniangardens7.jpg|thumb|''Nigella'' in full bloom]]
Several species are grown as [[ornamental plant]]s in gardens. ''[[Nigella damascena]]'' has been grown in English [[cottage garden]]s 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>{{cite journal |last1=Khader |first1=Mohannad |last2=Eckl |first2=Peter M. |title=Thymoquinone: an emerging natural drug with a wide range of medical applications |journal=Iranian Journal of Basic Medical Sciences |date=December 2014 |volume=17 |issue=12 |pages=950–957 |pmid=25859298 |pmc=4387230 }}</ref> [[anti-oxidative]],<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Entok |first1=Emre |last2=Ustuner |first2=Mehmet Cengiz |last3=Ozbayer |first3=Cansu |last4=Tekin |first4=Neslihan |last5=Akyuz |first5=Fahrettin |last6=Yangi |first6=Berat |last7=Kurt |first7=Hulyam |last8=Degirmenci |first8=Irfan |last9=Gunes |first9=Hasan Veysi |title=Anti-inflammatuar and anti-oxidative effects of ''Nigella sativa'' L.: 18FDG-PET imaging of inflammation |journal=Molecular Biology Reports |date=May 2014 |volume=41 |issue=5 |pages=2827–2834 |doi=10.1007/s11033-014-3137-2 |pmid=24474661 |s2cid=254840880 }}</ref> [[Antifungal|anti-mycotic]], [[antibacterial]],<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Bakathir |first1=Hussein Ahmed |last2=Abbas |first2=Nageeb Ahmed |title=Detection of the antibacterial effect of ''Nigella sativa'' ground seeds with water |journal=African Journal of Traditional, Complementary and Alternative Medicines |date=2011 |volume=8 |issue=2 |pages=159–164 |doi=10.4314/ajtcam.v8i2.63203 |pmid=22238497 |pmc=3252685 }}</ref><ref>{{cite journal |last1=Chaieb |first1=Kamel |last2=Kouidhi |first2=Bochra |last3=Jrah |first3=Hanene |last4=Mahdouani |first4=Kacem |last5=Bakhrouf |first5=Amina |title=Antibacterial activity of Thymoquinone, an active principle of ''Nigella sativa'' and its potency to prevent bacterial biofilm formation |journal=BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine |date=13 April 2011 |volume=11 |article-number=29 |doi=10.1186/1472-6882-11-29 |pmid=21489272 |pmc=3095572 |doi-access=free }}</ref><ref>{{cite journal |last1=Kokoska |first1=L. |last2=Havlik |first2=J. |last3=Valterova |first3=I. |last4=Sovova |first4=H. |last5=Sajfrtova |first5=M. |last6=Jankovska |first6=I. |title=Comparison of Chemical Composition and Antibacterial Activity of ''Nigella sativa'' Seed Essential Oils Obtained by Different Extraction Methods |journal=Journal of Food Protection |date=December 2008 |volume=71 |issue=12 |pages=2475–2480 |doi=10.4315/0362-028x-71.12.2475 |pmid=19244901 |doi-access=free }}</ref> [[Fungicide|anti-fungal]], [[anti-cancer]],<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Majdalawieh |first1=Amin F. |last2=Hmaidan |first2=Reem |last3=Carr |first3=Ronald I. |title=''Nigella sativa'' modulates splenocyte proliferation, Th1/Th2 cytokine profile, macrophage function and NK anti-tumor activity |journal=Journal of Ethnopharmacology |date=15 September 2010 |volume=131 |issue=2 |pages=268–275 |doi=10.1016/j.jep.2010.06.030 |pmid=20600757 }}</ref><ref>{{cite journal |last1=Cikman |first1=Oztekin |last2=Ozkan |first2=Adile |last3=Aras |first3=Adem Bozkurt |last4=Soylemez |first4=Omer |last5=Alkis |first5=Hilal |last6=Taysi |first6=Seyithan |last7=Karaayvaz |first7=Muammer |title=Radioprotective effects of ''Nigella sativa'' oil against oxidative stress in liver tissue of rats exposed to total head irradiation |journal=Journal of Investigative Surgery |date=October 2014 |volume=27 |issue=5 |pages=262–266 |doi=10.3109/08941939.2014.898811 |pmid=24679182 |s2cid=23302168 }}</ref><ref>{{cite journal |last1=Aikemu |first1=Ainiwaer |last2=Xiaerfuding |first2=Xiadiya |last3=Shiwenhui |first3=Chengyufeng |last4=Abudureyimu |first4=Meiliwan |last5=Maimaitiyiming |first5=Dilinuer |title=Immunomodulatory and anti-tumor effects of ''Nigella glandulifera'' Freyn and Sint. seeds on Ehrlich ascites carcinoma in mouse model |journal=Pharmacognosy Magazine |date=July 2013 |volume=9 |issue=35 |pages=187–191 |doi=10.4103/0973-1296.113258 |pmid=23929999 |pmc=3732418 |doi-access=free }}</ref><ref>{{cite journal |last1=Arafa |first1=El-Shaimaa A. |last2=Zhu |first2=Qianzheng |last3=Shah |first3=Zubair I. |last4=Wani |first4=Gulzar |last5=Barakat |first5=Bassant M. |last6=Racoma |first6=Ira |last7=El-Mahdy |first7=Mohamed A. |last8=Wani |first8=Altaf A. |title=Thymoquinone up-regulates PTEN expression and induces apoptosis in doxorubicin-resistant human breast cancer cells |journal=Mutation Research |date=10 January 2011 |volume=706 |issue=1–2 |pages=28–35 |doi=10.1016/j.mrfmmm.2010.10.007 |pmid=21040738 |pmc=3037029 |bibcode=2011MRFMM.706...28A }}</ref><ref>{{cite journal |last1=El-Mahdy |first1=Mohamed A. |last2=Zhu |first2=Qianzheng |last3=Wang |first3=Qi-En |last4=Wani |first4=Gulzar |last5=Wani |first5=Altaf A. |title=Thymoquinone induces apoptosis through activation of caspase-8 and mitochondrial events in p53-null myeloblastic leukemia HL-60 cells |journal=International Journal of Cancer |date=10 November 2005 |volume=117 |issue=3 |pages=409–417 |doi=10.1002/ijc.21205 |pmid=15906362 |s2cid=35725411 |doi-access=free }}</ref> [[anti-viral]], [[antihistamine]] properties, possessing many properties that make it a potential remedy against certain diseases.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Yimer |first1=Ebrahim M. |last2=Tuem |first2=Kald Beshir |last3=Karim |first3=Aman |last4=Ur-Rehman |first4=Najeeb |last5=Anwar |first5=Farooq |title=''Nigella sativa'' L. (Black Cumin): A Promising Natural Remedy for Wide Range of Illnesses |journal=Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine |date=12 May 2019 |volume=2019 |article-number=1528635 |doi=10.1155/2019/1528635 |pmid=31214267 |pmc=6535880 |doi-access=free }}</ref>

Black cumin is used by [[naturopath]]s. Black cumin oil and powder are sold to people suffering from pathologies such as [[skin diseases]], muscle pain, [[eczema]] or [[psoriasis]],<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Eid |first1=Ahmad M. |last2=Elmarzugi |first2=Nagib A. |last3=Abu Ayyash |first3=Laila M. |last4=Sawafta |first4=Maher N. |last5=Daana |first5=Hadeel I. |title=A Review on the Cosmeceutical and External Applications of ''Nigella sativa'' |journal=Journal of Tropical Medicine |date=2017 |volume=2017 |article-number=7092514 |doi=10.1155/2017/7092514 |pmid=29358959 |pmc=5735686 |doi-access=free }}</ref> but also [[acne]],<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Naseer A. |first1=Hadi |last2=Ammar Waham |first2=Ashor |title=''Nigella sativa'' oil lotion 20% vs. benzoyl peroxide lotion 5% in the treatment of mild to moderate acne vulgaris |journal=Iraqi Postgraduate Medical Journal |date=2010 |volume=9 |issue=4 |pages=371–376 |url=https://pesquisa.bvsalud.org/gim/resource/fr/emr-104279 }}</ref> [[diabetes]], and [[asthma]],<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Koshak |first1=Abdulrahman |last2=Wei |first2=Li |last3=Koshak |first3=Emad |last4=Wali |first4=Siraj |last5=Alamoudi |first5=Omer |last6=Demerdash |first6=Abdulrahman |last7=Qutub |first7=Majdy |last8=Pushparaj |first8=Peter Natesan |last9=Heinrich |first9=Michael |title=''Nigella sativa'' Supplementation Improves Asthma Control and Biomarkers: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Trial |journal=Phytotherapy Research |date=March 2017 |volume=31 |issue=3 |pages=403–409 |doi=10.1002/ptr.5761 |pmid=28093815 |s2cid=25341730 |url=https://discovery.ucl.ac.uk/id/eprint/1533014/ |url-access=subscription }}</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist}}

== External links ==
{{Commons-inline|Nigella|''Nigella''}}

{{Taxonbar|from=Q161065}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Nigella| ]]
[[Category:Ranunculaceae genera]]
[[Category:Botanical taxa named by Carl Linnaeus]]