Black Cumin Has Anti-Obesity Benefits, New Study Shows
Black cumin seeds are traditionally valued for their medicinal properties. In a new study, researchers explored its potential in combating obesity-related conditions.
Ahmed and others. suggest that black cumin seeds (Nigella sativa) may constitute a promising natural agent in pathologies linked to obesity. Image credit: André Holz / CC BY-SA 3.0.
Nigella sativaor black cumin, is a flowering plant of the Ranunculaceae family used for a long time in traditional medicine in South Asia, North Africa and the Mediterranean.
Its therapeutic properties are recognized in ancient systems such as Unani, Ayurveda and Tibb.
Black cumin seeds and their oil are rich in bioactive compounds such as alkaloids, flavonoids and essential oils, contributing to their broad pharmacological potential.
Their various physicochemical properties make them valuable both in food and medicine.
Cell culture and animal studies have demonstrated the therapeutic effects of black cumin and its active constituent, thymoquinone, including its antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, antidiabetic, antihypertensive, antitumor, immunomodulatory, and anti-obesity activities.
To study these effects, Dr Akiko Kojima-Yuasa of Osaka Metropolitan University and colleagues used cellular experiments and human clinical trials.
In the human clinical trial, participants who consumed 5 g of black cumin seed powder (approximately one tablespoon) daily for 8 weeks showed significant reductions in blood triglycerides, LDL (“bad”), and total cholesterol levels. Additionally, HDL (“good”) cholesterol levels increased.
Such improvements in blood lipid profiles are associated with a lower risk of heart problems and premature death.
The scientists also carried out cellular experiments to understand the processes involved.
They found that black cumin seed extract inhibited adipogenesis – the formation and maturation of fat cells – by blocking both the accumulation of fat droplets and the differentiation process.
“This study strongly suggests that black cumin seeds are useful as a functional food to prevent obesity and lifestyle diseases,” said Dr. Kojima-Yuasa.
“It was very gratifying to see black cumin comprehensively demonstrate its real, demonstrable lipid-lowering effects in a human trial.”
“We hope to conduct longer-term, larger-scale clinical trials to study the effects of black cumin on metabolism.”
“We are particularly interested in studying its effects on insulin resistance in diabetes and on inflammatory markers. »
The study was published in the journal Food science and nutrition.
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Shamima Ahmed and others. 2025. Black cumin seeds (Nigella sativa) Confers anti-adipogenic effects in the 3T3-L1 cell model and hypolipidemic properties in human subjects. Food science and nutrition 13 (9): e70888; doi: 10.1002/fsn3.70888
