Research
from around the world is producing increasing supportive
documentation regarding Black Seed's vast healing properties. Due
to its amazing effect on the immune system, Black Seed aids and
supplements the body's own ability to heal.
The
Cancer Immune-Biology Laboratory of South Carolina published
results on a study they did on Black Seed. It stated
"Black Cumin Oil (Black Seed) generally helps stimulate the
production of bone marrow and cells of the immune system. It
increases the production of interferon, protects normal cells from
the damaging effects of viral disease, destroys tumor cells and
increases the number of antibody producing B cells.
The effects of
Black Cumin Oil on humans were recently also studied in Germany. A
Munich immunologist, Dr. Peter Schleicher, closely co-operated
with institutions in the United States and has, as a result,
written two books on the subject containing numerous recipes for
the treatment of a wide variety of ailments. Most of them are skin
disorders or allergy related conditions, like asthma and hay fever
and are far too numerous to be listed here.
One book,
Black
Cumin: Magical Egyptian Herb by
Peter Schleicher, M.D., and Mohamed Saleh, M.D. explores the
extraordinary effectiveness of black cumin against immune-system
disorders, allergies, asthma, and skin problems.
This book is an excellent resource for anyone interested in the
healing properties of this incredible plant. It contains
everything you need to know in order to use black seed for the
prevention and treatment of illness, including specific recipes
for infections and allergies, and precise directions for their
preparation. The authors even provide a section on the use of
black seed as a beauty aid and as a culinary staple.
Protective effect
of black seed oil from Nigella sativa against murine
cytomegalovirus infection
Mohamed Labib Salem
a,and
Mohammad Sohrab Hossainb a
Department of Immunology, Medical Institute of Bioregulation,
Kyushu University, 3-1-1 Maidashi, Higashi-ku, Fukuoka 812-8582,
Japan and Center for AIDS Research, Division of Virology,
Kumamoto University, Kohonji, Japan
Received 19 November 1999; accepted 20 April 2000. Available
online 6 July 2000.
Abstract
In this study,
antiviral effect of black seed oil (BSO) from Nigella sativa
was investigated using murine cytomegalovirus (MCMV) as a model.
The viral load and innate immunity mediated by NK cells and M
during early stage of the infection were analyzed. Intraperitoneal
(i.p.) administration of BSO to BALB/c mice, a susceptible strain
of MCMV infection, strikingly inhibited the virus titers in spleen
and liver on day 3 of infection with 1×105 PFU MCMV.
This effect coincided with an increase in serum level of IFN-γ.
Although BSO treatment decreased both number and cytolytic
function of NK cells on day 3 of infection, it increased numbers
of M
and CD4+ T cells. On day 10 of infection, the virus
titer was undetectable in spleen and liver of BSO-treated mice,
while it was detectable in control mice. Although spleen of both
control and BSO-treated mice showed similar CTL activities on day
10 after infection, serum level of IFN-γ in BSO-treated mice
was higher. Furthermore, BSO treatment upregulated suppressor
function of M
in spleen. These results show that BSO exhibited a striking
antiviral effect against MCMV infection which may be mediated by
increasing of M
number and function, and IFN-γ production.
Author
Keywords: Black seed oil; Nigella sativa;
Cytomegalovirus; NK cells; Macrophages; Cytotoxic T lymphocytes;
IFN-γ
Department of Biochemistry, Gaziosmanpasa University Medical
Faculty, Tokat, Turkey.
Reactive oxygen species (ROS) including nitric oxide (NO) are
thought to be involved in inflammatory processes, exacerbating
inflammation and tissue damage in multiple sclerosis (MS). The oil
extracts of Nigella sativa (N. sativa) has been known as an
antioxidant and antiinflammatory agent. The aim of the present
study was to investigate the hypothesis that N. sativa components
provide protection against oxidative stress induced by
experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) in rats. For this
purpose, EAE was induced in rats by using guinea pig myelin basic
protein (MBP) in Freud's adjuvant with addition of heat-killed M.
Tuberculosis H37Ra to test this hypothesis. In study groups, N.
sativa was given by oral gavage to the rats. Treatment of the rats
with N. sativa inhibited ROS production induced by EAE showing
diminished levels of MDA of both brain and medulla spinalis
tissues. Although there was a significant decrease in brain NO
level, there was an increase in medulla spinalis NO level after
EAE induction in rats. N. sativa regulated tissue NO levels in
some extend when applied together with EAE. When N. sativa was
given alone to the rats, no changes were shown in brain, medulla
spinalis, and serum oxidant/antioxidant parameters. In conclusion,
N sativa may protect brain and medulla spinalis tissues against
oxidative stress induced by EAE. In addition, N. sativa display
its antioxidant and regulatory effects via inflammatory cells
rather than the host tissue (brain and medulla spinalis) for EAE
in rats.
The results of this research were presented at the 5th World
Congress of Veterinary Dermatology in Vienna in August 2004 and
have been published as an Abstract in the Special Congress Issue,
Supplement to the Journal of Veterinary Dermatology, vol. 15,
2004.
during early stage of the infection were analyzed. Intraperitoneal
(i.p.) administration of BSO to BALB/c mice, a susceptible strain
of MCMV infection, strikingly inhibited the virus titers in spleen
and liver on day 3 of infection with 1×105 PFU MCMV.
This effect coincided with an increase in serum level of IFN-γ.
Although BSO treatment decreased both number and cytolytic
function of NK cells on day 3 of infection, it increased numbers
of M