herb · for chronic inflammation
Black Seed Oil
Its active compound blocks the switch that turns inflammatory genes on.
Say that in clinical terms
Thymoquinone inhibits NF-kB transcription, reducing pro-inflammatory cytokines TNF-alpha and IL-6.
How strong is the research?
Mixed evidence
A pooled analysis of 50 trials found real improvements in blood markers.
A different form was studied
4 papers read, 3 supporting, 1 against.
Tested as: Nigella sativa supplementation (preparation form unspecified — seed oil, seed powder, and extracts pooled across included trials)
Who was studied: Every trial was in a disease group — fatty liver, diabetes, metabolic syndrome, obesity.
How much to take
daily
500–2000 mg
Cold-pressed oil standardized to thymoquinone. Reduces CRP, TNF-alpha, IL-6.
Before you take it
- No NIH/IOM Tolerable Upper Intake Level (UL) is established for Nigella sativa or its primary bioactive thymoquinone; published clinical trials have generally been limited to 1–2 g/day of seed oil for up to 3 months.
- Thymoquinone competitively inhibits CYP2C9 (warfarin 7-hydroxylase), CYP3A4, and CYP2D6; risk modeling indicates co-administration with NS oil above approximately 1 g/day may meaningfully elevate INR in patients on warfarin; clinically relevant pharmacokinetic interactions are also expected with phenytoin and other narrow-therapeutic-index drugs, antidiabetic agents, and antihypertensives metabolized by these isoforms.
- Contraindicated in pregnancy: rodent studies document dramatic reductions in fetal survival rates at supplemental doses; a 2024 clinical trial confirmed NS accelerates uterine emptying in cases of missed abortion; no established safe human dose in pregnancy has been identified.
- Thymoquinone content in commercial black seed oils varies approximately 13- to 57-fold across products and by geographic origin; dose equivalence between commercial preparations and clinical trial formulations is unreliable without standardized thymoquinone quantification.
- High-dose use has been associated with hepatotoxicity in case reports; contact dermatitis has been reported following topical application; at least one case of DRESS (drug reaction with eosinophilia and systemic symptoms) was reported after NS oil use.