[Review of pharmacological and toxicological effects of Nigella sativa and its active constituents]

Nigella sativa is an annual plant in the family Ranunculaceae, native to southern Europe, north Africa and southwest Asia. N. sativa seeds contain fixed oils, proteins, alkaloids [such as nigellicine and nigellidine], quinones [such as thymoquinone], saponin and essential oil. In traditional medicine, it has been used for several diseases such as antihelmintic, amenorrhea, asthma, diabetes, cough, diuretic and lactagogue. Pharmacological and biological activities of N. sativa and its constituents such as thymoquinone have been shown to be antioxidant, anti-ischemia, antinociceptive and anti-inflammatory, anticonvulsant and antitussive