Nigella Sativa Oil

Nigella sativa (Black seed oil) is made from the seeds of the black cumin plant which belongs to the ranunculus family (Ranunculaceae). The Nigella sativa plant is native to southwestern Asia, the Mediterranean and Africa. It has been grown for centuries for its aromatic and flavorful seeds that can be used as a spice or as an herbal medicine. Nigella sativa is also commonly called black cumin seed oil.

Quite possibly, the most promising research has been done connecting Nigella sativa to multi-drug resistant bacteria. This is a real big deal because these so-called “superbugs” are becoming a significant public health risk. According to the National Institute of Health:

Strains of bacteria and viruses that are antimicrobial-resistant are becoming virtually impossible to treat; including HIV, staphylococcal, tuberculosis, influenza, gonorrhea, candida and malaria.

Between 5 percent–10 percent of all hospital patients develop an infection from superbugs.

More than 90,000 of these patients die every year, up from 13,300 patient deaths in 1992.

People infected with superbugs typically have longer hospital stays, require more complicated treatment and don’t recover as well.

A study conducted by Jawaharlal Nehru Medical College researchers set out to determine just how potent black seed oil against some of these superbugs and paired it against several antibiotics, such as Amoxicillin, Gatifloxacin and Tetracycline. According to the study, “Out of 144 strains tested, most of which were resistant to a number of antibiotics, and 97 were inhibited by the oil of Nigella sativa.”

Next to oregano oil, few things on the planet can boast this type of potency to microbes. The study uncovered that it was especially effective against multi-drug resistant strains of P. aeruginosa and S. aureus.

The key to understanding why black seed oils benefits the body in this way is because it’s rich in three key natural chemicals: thymoquinone (TQ), thymohydroquinone (THQ) and thymol.

 

Physico Chemical Properties

 

Specification	Limit
SPECIFIC GRAVITY at 20°C	0.86000 to 0.87000
REFRACTIVE INDEX at 20°C	1.47000 to 1.48300
OPTICAL ROTATION	+ 4 to 8
FLASH POINT	60°C