Action Seeds—carminative, emmenagogue, anthelmintic. A tincture prepared from the
ripe seeds is used against catarrhal
inflammations of liver and intestines in homoeopathy.
Habitat Cultivated in Punjab, Bengal, Assam and Bihar.
English Black Cumin, Small Fennel.
Ayurvedic Kaalaajaaji, Kalikaa, Prthvikaa, Sthulajiraka, Sushavi, Upkunchilcaa (the plant bears seeds of bigger size).
Unani Kalonji, Kamaazaruus. Siddha/Tamil Karum seeragm.
Action Seeds—stimulant, carminative, diuretic, lactiferous, emmenagogue (stimulate uterine contractions). Used in puerperal fever. Powdered seeds externally applied to boils. Essential oil— used in common cold, cough and bronchospasm.
The essential oil from seeds contains nigellone and 2-methyl-4-isopropyl-p- quinone. The oil contains carvone (45— 60%), d-limonene and cymene. Seeds contain fatty acids including palmitic, myristic, stearic, oleic, linoleic and linolenic. Beta-sitosterol is also present in the seeds.
Low concentration of nigellone has been shown to inhibit the release of histamine from mast cells in animals. (Natural Medicines Comprehensive Database, 2007.)
The ethanolic extract of the seeds and the volatile oil from seeds showed antispasmodic activity in experimental animals, possibly due to a calcium antagonistic effect.
The oil exhibited CNS depressant and potent analgesic effects on experimental animals, possibly due to the presence of an opioid principle in the oil.
U.
Nigella sativa Linn.
Family Ran unculaceae.
440 Nilgirianthus ciliatus (Nees) Bremek.
Dosage Seed—1—3 g powder (API, Vol. I); 3—5 g powder (CCRAS).
Nilgirianthus ciliatus
(Nees) Bremek.
Synonym Strobilanthes ciliatus
Nees.
Family Acanthaceae.
Habitat Western Ghats from South Kanara to Travancore, in evergreen forests.
Ayurvedic Sahachara (pale-roseflowered var. used in Kerala). (Sahachara is equated with Barleria
