Graded against 178,763 supplements and 757 reviewed supplement and medication pairs, sourced from PubMed, FDA CAERS, openFDA, NIH DSLD
Black Seed
BotanicalLast updated April 2026
AVELOR SUMMARY
Black seed (Nigella sativa, black cumin) contains thymoquinone, a bioactive compound with broad anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and metabolic properties.
Our research shows moderate evidence for blood sugar control, lipid improvement, and blood pressure reduction.
Often called "the remedy for everything except death" in traditional Islamic medicine, the clinical evidence is real but more modest than the folklore suggests.
The primary active compound is thymoquinone (TQ), which constitutes 30-48% of black seed oil. TQ modulates multiple pathways: NF-κB inhibition (anti-inflammatory), AMPK activation (metabolic), PPAR-γ modulation (insulin sensitization), and antioxidant enzyme upregulation (SOD, catalase, glutathione peroxidase). It also has antibacterial and antifungal properties.
Black seed is available as whole seeds, ground seed powder, and cold-pressed seed oil. The oil form concentrates thymoquinone and is preferred for therapeutic use.
OPTIMAL DOSAGE
Seed oil: 1-3g/day (standardized to thymoquinone content)
Independently graded against 178,763 indexed supplements and 757 reviewed supplement and medication pairs, sourced from PubMed, FDA CAERS, openFDA, and NIH DSLD | Last updated: April 2026
Not medical advice. Based on published clinical research and systematic reviews.