Black Cumin

At a glance

Origin / distribution: India, Malaya, Turkey, Iraq, Spain, Europe, Ethiopia

Cultural traditions: not documented

Recorded uses: Asthma, Bactericide, Cancer(Nose), Carminative

Science studied: ALANINE, ARABIC-ACID, ASCORBIC-ACID, ASH

Research volume: 0 indexed records · volume only · methodology ↗

Legal status: Varies by jurisdiction; not assessed in this record.

Names and identity

Family: Ranunculaceae

Scientific name: Nigella sativa

Common names: Black Cumin, Roman Coriander, Fennel-Flower, Nutmeg-Flower, Black Caraway, černuška posevnaja, Black cumin, Black cumin (EN), Black-cumin, Common fennel flower, Cumin noir, Czarnuszka siewna, Echter Schwarzkümmel, Jintan Hitam, Neguilla, Nigelle cultivée, Nigelle cultivée, Herbe aux épices, Cumin noir, Pebreta, Roman-coriander

POWO: 711687-1 · WCVP June 2026 / POWO backbone

History

The source record documents this plant in Elsewhere, India, Malaya, Turkey, Iraq, Spain, Europe, Ethiopia.

It records these historical or traditional applications:

• Asthma
• Bactericide
• Cancer(Nose)
• Carminative
• Cough
• Digestive
• Diuretic
• Emmenagogue

This summary is limited to the cited source record.

Origins and distribution

• Elsewhere
• India
• Malaya
• Turkey
• Iraq
• Spain
• Europe
• Ethiopia

Documented cultural uses

• Asthma
• Bactericide
• Cancer(Nose)
• Carminative
• Cough
• Digestive
• Diuretic
• Emmenagogue
• Eruption
• Excitant
• Fever
• Jaundice

Cultural record detail

These entries are transcribed from the cited ethnobotanical source; they do not represent current advice or a claim of efficacy.

• Asthma · Elsewhere · "
• Bactericide · India · "
• Cancer(Nose) · Malaya · "
• Carminative · Turkey · "
• Cough · Elsewhere · "
• Digestive · Turkey · "
• Diuretic · Elsewhere · "
• Emmenagogue · Turkey · "
• Eruption · Iraq · "
• Eruption · Elsewhere · "
• Excitant · Spain · "
• Fever · Iraq · "
• Fever · Elsewhere · "
• Jaundice · Europe · "
• Lactogogue · Turkey · "
• Puerperium · Elsewhere · "
• Purgative · Turkey · "
• Resolvent · Turkey · "
• Skin · Elsewhere · "
• Spice · Turkey · "
• Stimulant · Turkey · "
• Stimulant · Elsewhere · "
• Stomachic · Turkey · "
• Sudorific · Turkey · "

14 additional documented entries remain in the source record.

Contemporary uses

Contemporary practice is not documented separately in this record.

Scientific research

Indexed records indicate research activity; they do not establish efficacy or safety.

Indexed research records

• Experimental Investigation of the Effects of 'Nigella sativa' and 'Vitis vinifera' on Intraoral Wound Healing. · 2026 source ↗
• Acute Localized Exanthematous Pustulosis-Like Dermatitis Induced by Nigella sativa Seed Oil. · 2026 source ↗
• Re-evaluating the neuroprotective landscape of Nigella sativa: Molecular mechanisms, nanomedicine, and clinical translation. · 2026 source ↗

Scientific compounds

Chemical presence is not evidence of clinical efficacy.

• ALANINE
• ARABIC-ACID
• ASCORBIC-ACID
• ASH
• ASPARAGINE
• CALCIUM
• CARBOHYDRATES
• CYMENE
• DEHYDROASCORBIC-ACID
• EO
• FAT
• GLUCOSE
• GLYCINE
• IRON
• LEUCINE
• D-LIMONENE

Legality

No exact international trade listing was returned by the CITES checklist for this accepted name. Country-specific law is not assessed here.

Consult the CITES species checklist for current international and national requirements.

Reference images

Sources

Plants of the World Online (POWO) · Kew data terms; cite POWO/WCVP

World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP) · CC BY 3.0

CC0 · Dr. Duke raw CSV archive

Contributions and revisions

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