Nigella vegetable oil: benefits and uses in natural cosmetics and health

Nigellone, one of the active ingredients present in Nigella oil, has an antihistamine and bronchodilator action. Studies have been carried out to understand the mechanism of action of nigellone against allergies: it would be capable of inhibiting the release of histamine by mast cells, but also of blocking calcium channels in order to regulate the immune reaction of the organism. Administered orally, it has been observed that the latter considerably reduces the symptoms of asthmatic bronchitis.

For many years now, Black Seed oil has been studied to prove its immunomodulatory action. Nigella seed and Nigella essential oil have already been well studied: the first acts directly on T lymphocytes while the second induces an increase in the activity or number of immune cells (NK, CD4 T cells). , T CD8). According to several studies, it seems that Nigella sativa L. would reduce the humoral response and stimulate the cellular immune response. The effects of vegetable oil on immunity are not yet fully understood, but it is clear that the latter has an immunomodulatory action.

Nigella oil is composed of a small part of essential oil, which itself contains a unique compound: thymoquinone. This molecule has powerful anti-infectious properties to act against bacteria and fungi. Nigella oil therefore helps cleanse the skin. Many studies have been carried out on the properties of Nigella against acne, and one of them demonstrated that adding 20% ​​of Nigella oil to a lotion was more effective than a lotion containing 5% benzoyl peroxide, a treatment used for acne. Finally, Nigella oil has anti-inflammatory properties to calm damaged skin, and anti-oxidant and healing properties to improve its appearance.

Anti-inflammatory and healing, Black Seed oil helps relieve and repair skin affected by psoriasis and eczema. A 2014 study proved that taking black seed oil orally, combined with skin application, had a significant anti-psoriatic effect, and that black seed oil considerably limited the excessive proliferation of keratinocytes.

Nigella oil helps nourish the skin thanks to its richness in fatty acids, but it also helps soothe irritation and redness thanks to its anti-inflammatory action. It has many other beneficial properties for the skin! It is anti-oxidant, it can thus protect cells from free radicals to avoid their degradation, and prevent the formation of wrinkles and sagging of the skin. Finally, Nigella oil has an action on the formation of collagen as well as on the healing process.

The action of Nigella oil on the digestive and intestinal system occurs at several levels, thanks to its different active ingredients. Nigelline first of all has a stimulating action on the gastric system. Thymoquinone then has a protective effect on the gastric mucosa, limiting lesions. A study on rats was notably able to prove that Nigella oil, administered orally, was capable of reducing the formation of gastric ulcers induced by ethanol. Nigella could thus form a real protective barrier, thanks to its anti-oxidant and anti-histamine properties.

Nigella helps fight joint pain thanks to its anti-inflammatory action which results from its anti-oxidant action. Indeed, thymoquinone helps inhibit the production of lipoxygenases or cycloxygenases, enzymes responsible for the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines. It also inhibits the production of eicosanoids, fatty acid derivatives that mediate the inflammatory response and are synthesized by cytokines. Nigella oil is therefore very useful against inflammation and therefore rheumatic pain or other inflammatory diseases. Finally, Nigella oil also has pain-relieving properties.