Nigella
Love in the mist
Nigelella, commonly known as black cumin or kalonji, is a versatile medicinal plant cherished in traditional healing. Renowned for its potent antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, its tiny, dark seeds offer diverse health benefits, ranging from supporting digestive wellness to boosting immunity and promoting overall metabolic health across various cultures.
- Scientific name: Nigella
- Family: Ranunculaceae
- Native range: Europe
Taxonomical Classification
This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and is classified under the phylum Streptophyta and the class Equisetopsida. Within the subclass Magnoliidae, it is organized under the order Ranunculales and the family Ranunculaceae. It is specifically identified by the genus Nigella.
| Rank | Classification | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Kingdom | Plantae | WCVP |
| Phylum | Streptophyta | WCVP |
| Class | Equisetopsida | WCVP |
| Subclass | Magnoliidae | WCVP |
| Order | Ranunculales | WCVP |
| Family | Ranunculaceae | WCVP |
| Genus | Nigella | WCVP |
Common Names
This plant, known scientifically as Nigella, is recognized by various common names across different linguistic and regional contexts. In Hindi, it is widely referred to as कलौंजी, while in Chinese, it is identified through several localized scripts: 黑种草属 (zh-hans), 黑種草屬 (zh-hant), 黑種草屬 (zh-hk), and 黑种草属 (zh-cn).| Language | Common Name | Source |
|---|---|---|
| hi | कलौंजी | Wikidata |
| zh-hans | 黑种草属 | Wikidata |
| zh-hant | 黑種草屬 | Wikidata |
| zh-hk | 黑種草屬 | Wikidata |
| zh-cn | 黑种草属 | Wikidata |
| zh-sg | 黑种草属 | Wikidata |
| zh-tw | 黑種草屬 | Wikidata |
| eo | Nigelo | Wikidata |
| bo | ཟི་ར་ནག་པོ། | Wikidata |
| pl | Czarnuszka | Wikidata |
Distribution
This plant, known as Nigella, exhibits a specific distribution across several northern European regions. It can be found growing naturally within the borders of Denmark. Furthermore, its presence extends to the northern territories of Finland. The species is also well-established throughout Great Britain and Ireland. Finally, its geographical range includes the scenic landscapes of Norway.
| Region | Area | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Northern Europe | Denmark | WCVP |
| Northern Europe | Finland | WCVP |
| Northern Europe | Great Britain | WCVP |
| Northern Europe | Ireland | WCVP |
| Northern Europe | Norway | WCVP |
| Northern Europe | Sweden | WCVP |
| Middle Europe | Austria | WCVP |
| Middle Europe | Belgium | WCVP |
| Middle Europe | Czechia-Slovakia | WCVP |
| Middle Europe | Germany | WCVP |
Plant Parts
This plant, commonly known as black cumin, is highly valued for its therapeutic properties, which are primarily derived from the nigella seed. These small, matte black seeds are the most significant part of the plant used in traditional medicine and culinary practices. Beyond the seeds, the plant produces delicate white or pale blue flowers and fine, feathery foliage, but it is the concentrated oils and compounds found within the seed that provide its most potent medicinal benefits.- Total parts
- 1
- Scientific sources
- 1
| Plant Part | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| nigella seed | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Chemicals
Nigella has 3 reported phytochemicals identified across 3 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include nigeglanine, nigellicine, nigellidine.
- Total chemicals
- 3
- Scientific sources
- 3
Most Reported Compounds
| Compound | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| nigeglanine | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| nigellicine | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| nigellidine | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |