Black cumin: 7 modern benefits of an ancient seed oil

Virginia Tims-LawsonDec 10, 2025

Black cumin seed comes from the plant known as Nigella sativa.

While it’s widely used as a spice to flavor foods, like bread and pickles, the oil expressed from the seed, commonly called black see oil, has also been embraced for thousands of years for its curative properties.

In fact, black seed oil was the go-to remedy used by King Tut, Cleopatra and Hippocrates for an array of conditions, including malaise, weakness, coughing and skincare.

Now research can back up its benefits…

The main compound behind Nigella sattva’s health benefits is its active constituent, thymoquinone. Studies have shown this compound may benefit brain, liver and heart health, and support healthy blood sugar and blood pressure, just to name a few of its top benefits.

And the seeds also deliver healthy amino acids, significant levels of iron, copper, zinc, phosphorus and other vitamins and minerals, as well as beneficial sterols and fatty acids.

It’s important to note that black cumin seed is packed with phytosterols, which studies are increasingly showing have nutraceutical benefits that help to lower “bad cholesterol” or LDL, as well as total cholesterol numbers.

The many researched benefits of black seed oil

#1 — Protection against free radicals

Research has shown that oxidative stress, caused by free radicals, is harmful to health and contributes to cellular aging. Both in-vivo and in-vitro studies have demonstrated that Nigella Sativa delivers high levels of effective antioxidants to combat this oxidative stress, which could help you guard against destructive processes and the accelerated aging caused by those free radicals.

#2 — Blood sugar support

Remember how we said that the Egyptian Kings and Queens used Nigella Sativa as a remedy for “sweet urine”?

Well, they were on to something big.

Modern-day studies have shown that when it comes to promoting balanced blood sugar, Nigella Sativa may help:

Significantly reduce fasting plasma glucose.
Stabilize serum glucose concentrations when combined with Cinnamomum cassia extract.

#3 — Blood pressure support

Black seed oil has even been found to offer support for healthy blood pressure.

In fact, a controlled trial of 57 patients who took two grams of Nigella Sativa daily found that it resulted in:

Reduction in systolic and diastolic blood pressure.
Reduced mean arterial blood pressure.
Lower heart rate.

#4 — Brain support

The seeds are also known for promoting a healthy mind and mood.

Thymoquinone, that highly active molecule in black seed oil, has shown benefits for healthy cognition. And repeated administration of the oil in rats demonstrated improvement in both learning and recall status.

#5 — Anti-Inflammatory and analgesic support

Like free radicals, scientists now see inflammation as playing a key role in numerous conditions, from arthritis and asthma to allergies and chronic pain.

And black seed oil can offer support here as well…

Thymoquinone has been found to display anti-inflammatory properties comparable to those found in salicylic acid, the metabolite of aspirin. And studies have demonstrated that the oils from Nigella sativa have pain-relieving effects comparable to those of Diclofenac sodium (a commonly prescribed pain medication).

#6 — Immune system support

Research has also shown that thymoquinone is a friend to the immune system. It’s considered an immune system modulator, may help balance the immune response, and has anti-fungal and anti-pathogenic properties.

In fact, black seed oil has been used to inhibit both gram-positive and gram-negative bacterial activity, suppress viral load, and increase the number and function of powerful immune cells, known as T cells.

#7 — Helps with weight loss

A 2015 study published in Food and Function found that when obese women supplemented with Black seed oil and followeda low-calorie diet, they experienced a significant decrease in weight and waist circumference compared to women who received a placebo.

Black seed oil in your diet

Clearly, black seed oil offers powerful, research-backed benefits to help naturally promote overall wellness.

And there are a few ways you can use it.

First, it should be eaten raw, according to Cate Ritter, a certified functional diagnostic nutrition practitioner, who says it shouldn’t be heated to preserve its nutrients.

That makes it a good choice for salad dressing or for adding to smoothies and coffee, as you might with coconut oil or olive oil. However, if you’re like me, you may find the bitterness a little overpowering.

If that’s the case, you can supplement black cumin seed oil. Look for one that contains cold-pressed, hexane-free black seed oil from organic black Nigella Sativa seeds.

When something is carried down over the years as a “remedy” — especially as long as black cumin seed has — there’s got to be something to it. But when the research agrees, it’s even better. For me, it’s just one more natural way to help keep those modern-day ills at bay.