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In the present era of emerging antibiotic/drug resistance against pathogenic organisms and food safety concerns of their toxic residues as well as slow process of discovering newer antibiotics, there is a dire need for using natural and effective alternatives. In this regard, herbal and aromatic plants and/or their extracts are gaining attention of worldwide researchers. Studies on Nigella sativa (black cumin) seeds show promising results that it could provide a suitable alternative to antibiotics as growth promoter and safeguard various health issues of animals and humans. The seeds of black cumin with thymoquinone as its main active constituent are mainly used for medicinal purposes and could be used as food spice and nutritional supplements. These have beneficial antinociceptive, antimicrobial, growth enhancing, antiparasitic, immunomoulatory, hepatoprotective, analgesic, anti-inflammatory, antioxidative and bronchodilating effects. Blood pressure regulating as well as bile flow stimulating effects have also been observed. Black cumin seeds have been used widely against several diseases, disorders and ailments of humans and animals including bronchial asthma, cough, bronchitis, lung inflammation, microbial infections, fever, dysentery, gastrointestinal problems, gastric ulcers, hypertension, neurodegenerative diseases, epilepsy, alzheimer disease, headache, diabetes, allergy, obesity, back pain, skin diseases, eczema, jaundice, anorexia, conjunctivitis, dyspepsia, rheumatism, diabetes, intrinsic hemorrhages, amenorrhea and immune disorders, which altogether indicate their potent therapeutic values and biomedicinal perspectives. The aim of this study is to provide comprehensive and recent information about the nutritional, healthical, pharmaceutical, therapeutic and biomedical applications and prospects of Nigella sativa seeds in feeding humans, animals and poultry.
El‐Hack et al. (Tue,) studied this question.