Below we have
detailed some interesting information on the Black
Seed.
If you need further
information please do not hesitate to contact us
Info@ImanProducts.com
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What is Nigella Sativa (Black Seed)?
Names Associated with Nigella Sativa: It is
variously referred to in Europe as black cumin or
black caraway. To avoid confusing the issue, it is
better to remember the botanical name Nigella
Sativa. However you may find the following useful.
Black Seed Oil is referred to differently depending
on where in the world you are. Variations can be
found regionally, for example in Pakistan / India,
it is referred to as Kalonji or Kalwanji Oil, whilst
in Saudi Arabia and the Middle East, it is commonly
known as Habbat ul Sauda, Habbat ul Baraka.
The seeds are known as the following amongst many:
Dutch
Nigelle, Narduszaad
English
Fennel flower, love in the mist, Onion seed, Black
Cumin, Black Caraway, nutmeg flower, Roman
coriander, Fitch,
French
Cheveux de Venus, Nigelle, Poivrette
German
Zwiebelsame, Nigella, Schwarzkümmel Hindi: Kalonji,
Munga reala, Kalongi
Italian
Nigella Malay: Jintan hitam Russian: Charnushka,
Singhalese: Kaluduru, Spanish: Niguilla, Pasionara
Tamil
Karun jiragam
Turkish
Çörekotu siyah
Please Note, there are many names attributed to
Nigella Sativa. The above list is a mere guideline.
As mentioned previously, the botanical name should
more than suffice.
Botanical
Information
Family: Ranunculaceae (Buttercup)
Taxon: Nigella sativa (Latin)
Parts Used: Seeds
Plant Description
An herbaceous plant of annual growth, belonging to
th buttercup family, about 60cm high. The greyish
green leaves are wispy and thread like. The flowers
have five petals about 2.5 cm wide, white with blue
veins and the plant appears between June and
September.
Seed Description
Nigella seeds are small, black grains with a rough
surface and an oily white interior. They are roughly
triangulate (three sided), and approximately 1-3 mm
long. The seeds have no natural smell although when
they are rubbed they give off an aroma reminiscent
of oregano. They have a strong, spicy / peppery
taste, are slightly bitter, with a crunchy texture.
Chemical Makeup (Short List): Alanine, arginine,
ascorbic-acid, asparagine, campesterol, carvone,
cymene, cystine, dehydroascorbic-acid, eicosadienoic-acid,
glucose, glutamic-acid, glycine, iron, isoleucine,
leucine, d-limonene, linoleic acid, linolenic-acid,
lipase, lysine, methionine, myristic-acid, nigellin,
nigellone, oleic-acid, palmitic-acid, phenylalanine,
phytosterols, potassium, beta-sitosterol, alpha-spinasterol,
stearic-acid, stigmasterol, tannin, threonine,
thymohydroquinone, thymoquinone, tryptophan.
Nutritional
Composition (Typical amounts)
Protein: 21% Carbohydrates: 35% Plant Fats: 35-38%
Cultivation
Our Nigella is grown in Egypt or Turkey. These
regions are considered by many to be the source of
the best nigella in the world. We grow all our
products using biodynamic agricultural methods,
which insure the herbs are free of man made
chemicals and of the highest quality. All the
growing and processing of Iman virgin Black Seeds
conform to the strict guidelines we set out
therefore the natural purity and nutrients are
always in abundance!
Chemical Analysis
Nigella sativa contains over 100 valuable
components. It is a significant source of protein,
essential fatty acids (the type your body can't
produce), and many vitamins namely, A, B, B2, C &
Niacin. Minerals include Calcium, Potassium, Iron,
Zinc, Magnesium & Selenium.
Vitamin A (retinol) plays a vital role in the
functioning of the retina, growth and maturation of
the cells lining the inner and outer surfaces of the
body, growth of bone, reproduction and embryonic
development. Several compounds have vitamin A
activity and they are referred to as retinoids. They
function with certain carotenoids to protect against
the development of certain cancers and to enhance
immune function. Carotenoids are substances that are
consumed in the diet, some of which are converted to
vitamin A. They may also have antioxidant activity.
Vitamin A deficiency causes night blindness, a
condition in which vision is impaired in dim light.
Dryness and ulceration of the eyes, skin eruptions
and dryness, abnormal cells of the mucous membranes,
urinary stones, and impaired taste and smell also
characterize the deficiency. Vitamin A is stored in
several sites in the body, so when a deficiency
occurs, supplements must be given long enough for
these stores to be replenished. Lack of Vitamin A
results in joint pain, dry and itchy skin, cracked
lips, nausea and vomiting, weight loss
Thiamine (Vitamin B1) is important for energy
metabolism and in the initiation of nerve impulses.
A deficiency of thiamine causes a condition known as
beriberi. The major symptoms of the deficiency are
related to the nervous system (i.e. sensory
disturbances, muscle weakness, impaired memory) and
the heart (i.e. shortness of breath, palpitations,
and heart failure). Wernickeıs syndrome is a serious
complication of alcoholism and thiamine deficiency
that may manifest as impaired muscle coordination,
impaired ability to move the eyes, and marked
confusion. It may lead to Korsakoffıs psychosis, a
chronic disorder in which memory and learning are
impaired. Thiamine is used to treat thiamine
deficiency. There are many unproven uses of thiamine
including a treatment for poor appetite, canker
sores, motion sickness, poor memory, fatigue and as
an insect repellent.
Riboflavin (Vitamin B2) is important in
promoting the release of energy from carbohydrates,
fats and proteins. It also aids in maintaining the
integrity of red blood cells. Riboflavin deficiency
can occur most frequently in people with long
standing infections, liver disease, and alcoholism.
A sore throat and sores at the corners of the mouth
are generally the first symptoms of a deficiency.
This can be followed by a swollen tongue, anaemia
and impaired nerve function.
Nicotinic acid (Niacin, Vitamin B3) is
important for the release of energy from
carbohydrates and fats, the metabolism of proteins,
making certain hormones, and assisting in the
formation of red blood cells. Niacin deficiency
causes pellagra, a condition that affects the skin,
diarrhoea, nausea, vomiting, swollen tongue and weak
nervous system. (I.e. headache, depression, impaired
memory, hallucinations and dementia). Frequent
causes of a deficiency result from a poor diet.
Niacin is used for the treatment of niacin
deficiency but at large doses is also used to treat
high cholesterol and triglycerides.
Vitamin C (Ascorbic Acid) has many important
functions in the body. It is a powerful antioxidant,
protecting against oxidative damage to DNA, membrane
lipids and proteins. It is involved in the synthesis
of numerous substances such as collagen, certain
hormones and transmitters of the nervous system,
lipids and proteins. It is necessary for proper
immune function, a fact that has led many to use
vitamin C to prevent or treat colds, although this
has not been supported by current studies. It may,
however, shorten or reduce the severity of a cold.
Vitamin C deficiency causes scurvy, anaemia and
general debility that can lead to death. Diets
containing 200mg or more of vitamin C from fruits
and vegetables are associated with a lower cancer
risk, particularly for cancers of the colon, lung,
mouth, oesophagus and stomach. Ascorbic acid alone
does not appear to prevent heart disease, however
the combined use with vitamin E may reduce the risk
of heart disease.
Calcium in the body must be tightly
controlled because it is necessary to cell function
for such things as blood clotting, muscle
contraction, enzyme reactions, cellular
communication and skin differentiation. It also
gives bones and teeth their strength. In fact, the
hardest substance in the human body, tooth enamel,
is 95% calcium. Calcium is rather deficient in the
environment. The body has developed special
mechanisms to extract calcium from dietary sources.
A deficiency of calcium results in rickets in
children and osteomalacia, both of which display a
lack of bone mineralization. Calcium deficiency may
also contribute to osteoporosis. Extra calcium in
the body is usually excreted.
Potassium
Functions: Fluid balance, transmission of nerve
impulses, helps in the making of protein
Deficiency: Muscle weakness, fatigue, confusion
Toxicity: Muscle weakness, abnormal heart beat,
vomiting
Iron is important in the transportation of
oxygen from the lungs by way of the blood stream to
the tissues. It is present in the red blood cell
protein, haemoglobin. A similar protein in muscle,
myoglobin, also contains iron and stores oxygen for
use during muscle contraction. Iron is found in the
portion of the cell involved in energy production
and as a cofactor for several enzymes. Iron
deficiency generally occurs during the growth period
or when intake fails to replace iron loss that is
associated with blood loss. When iron stores are
depleted and there is inadequate production of heme
(the portion of haemoglobin associated with the
iron), the red blood cells become small (microcytic)
and have decreased capacity to carry oxygen. There
is also a drop in iron-containing enzymes that are
important in cellular metabolism. This results in
decreased work capacity, fatigue and altered
behaviour such as irritability.
Selenium is an essential non-metallic
element. Some reports have suggested that selenium
may protect against certain types of cancer, but
large trials in humans are needed to support this.
Selenium is important for the function of several
proteins. One of these is glutathione peroxidase, an
enzyme that prevents oxidative damage to cells from
a variety of peroxides. Selenium also appears to
bind to some minerals such as arsenic and mercury
and decrease their toxicity. Symptoms of selenium
deficiency include muscle weakness and pain,
inflammation of the muscles, fragile red blood
cells, degeneration of the pancreas, and abnormal
coloration. There have also been associations of
selenium deficiency with several diseases affecting
the heart muscle, but a protective effect against
heart disease has not been proven.
Magnesium works in conjunction with many
enzymes that are involved in energy metabolism,
protein synthesis and nucleic acid synthesis. Many
people with migraine headaches have been found to
have low levels of magnesium ions. A deficiency of
magnesium is rare. Drugs that cause potassium
depletion, such as certain diuretics, may also cause
low magnesium levels. A deficiency can occur in
diabetics, and in the presence of gastrointestinal
disorders where absorption is impaired, such as
prolonged diarrhoea. Magnesium appears to be
involved in the regulation of calcium levels;
therefore if magnesium levels are low, calcium
levels may also be low and unresponsive to treatment
unless magnesium levels are corrected. Signs of a
deficiency include loss of appetite, irritability,
disorientation, convulsions, and abnormal behaviour.
Zinc is important in growth, appetite,
development of the testicles, skin integrity, mental
activity, wound healing, and proper functioning of
the immune system. Zinc is a cofactor for many
enzymes, which means that zinc is necessary for the
proper functioning of these enzymes. These enzymes
participate in the metabolism of carbohydrates,
lipids, proteins and nucleic acids (such as DNA).
Zinc is involved in the functioning of the immune
system and in the expression of genetic information.
Zinc has been used to reduce the duration or
severity of the common cold and other upper
respiratory tract infections of viral origin.
Investigations are underway to verify these claims.
A zinc deficiency may be associated with diets high
in unrefined cereal and unleavened bread.
Side effects
Black seed is a safe and effective herb that can be
used by almost anyone. No irritations or side
effects are caused when taken correctly. The
benefits are realised medium to long term if taken
regularly. We do not recommend Black seed oil to be
taken by pregnant women. Children under 12 should
take half the adult dosage. Not recommended for
children under five.
Did you know!
Nigella Sativa. is said to have been in use for 2000
years.
The use of Nigella Sativa. Originated in the Middle
East and the Far East. From there it spread to other
regions, such as Africa and Europe.
It is reported that, in the first century AD, the
Greek physician, Dioscorides, recommended it.
Romans used it as a digestive aid.
Ancient Egyptians believed medicinal plants play a
part in the afterlife of their pharaohs. Plants have
been found in the Giza pyramid and can be seen on
display in the Cairo Museum in Egypt. Nigella sativa
has been found in the tomb of King Tutankhamen.
Research &
development
Here at Iman products we are constantly striving to
provide you with the best range of products to suit
individuals of all ages and lifestyles. At present
our research and development team is working
continuously to bring forward more and more premium
quality products. Products that stretch the
boundaries of Excellence. Products you have come to
expect from the producers of the finest quality
Black seed oil in the market today, Alham-do-lilah.
