BOTANICAL NAME

NIGELLA SATIVA

FAMILY

RANUNCULACEAE

OTHER NAMES

Sanskrit

Ajaji, Aranyajeeraka, Asitajirakah, Bashpika, Jiraka, Kala-ajaji, Kalajaji, Kalika, Kalvanjika, Karava, Karave, Karavi,

Krishna jiraka,Krishna-jiraka, Krsnajiraka, Kunchi, Kunchika, Kuncika, Kunjika, Musavi, Prathvika, Prithu, Prithuka,

Prithvi, Prthu, Prthvika, Susavi,Sushave, Sushavi, Upakunchika, Upakunchiraka, Upakunci, Upakuncika

Hindi

Kala-jira, Kala-zira, Kalajira, Kalomji, Kalonji, Kulangji, Mugrela

Urdu

Kalonji, Kalonji (kamazarius), Tukhm gandana

English

Fennel flower, Fitches, Kalonji

Kannada

Kare-jirage, Karejirage, Karijirigae, Karijirigay, Karijirigi, Karimsiragam, Karejeerage, Karijeerige, Krishnajeerige

Malyalam

Karinchirakam, Karincirakam, Karun-chirakam, Karunchirakam, Karunshiragam

Marathi

Krishnajira, Kalongji, Kalonjee jeere

Tamil

Karum ciragam, Karunjiragam, Karuncirakam, Karunjeeragam, Kariya cirakam, Karkolam, Aranam, Upakuncikai, Karunshirogam

Telgu

Nalla-jilakara, Nallailakarra, Nallajilakara, Nellajeelakaira, Nullajilakara, Nalla jeelakarra

OTHER INFORMATION

DESCRIPTION

A small elegant, annual herb, about 45 cm high; leaves 2-3 pinnatisect, 2.5-5.0 cm long,

cut into linear-lanceolate segments; flowers pale-blue 2.0-2.5 cm across, without an involucre,

solitary on long peduncles.

PHARMACOGNOSY

Seed : Seeds re small, icotyledonous, trigonous, angular, rugulose-tubercular, 2-3.5 * 1-2 mm,

black externally and white inside, odour slightly aromatic; taste bitter. Transverse section of seed

shows seed coat, cotyledons and embryo. The testa of seed shows single layered epidermis

consisting of elliptical, thick-walled cells covered externally by a papillose cuticle, filled with

reddish-brown content; followed by 2-4 layers of thick-walled, tangentially elongated,

parenchymatous cells.

DISTRIBUTION

This species is indigenous to the Mediterranean region, occasionally cultivated and naturalised

in northern and north-central India.

CULTIVATION

The seeds are collected mostly from wild source. It is generally cultivated on dry soil between

November to April. Seeds takes 10-15 days to germinate.

PART (S) USED

SEED

DOSE

1 - 3 gm.

CHEMICAL CONSTITUENTS

Aliphatic alcohol, Carvone, D-limonne, Cymene, Nigellone, Melanthin, Melanthignin,

Campesterol, Stigmasterol,Sitosterol, Nigellone, Citronellyl acetate

PHYSICAL CONSTITUENTS

Foreign matter 2 %, Total ash 6 %, Acid insoluble ash 0.2 %, Alcohol soluble extractive 20 %,

Water soluble extractive 15 %, Total fixed oil 25.32 %, Volatile oil 0.42 %

AYURVEDIC PROPERTIES

GUNA (Quality)

Ruksha, Laghu, Tikshan

RASA (Taste)

Katu, Tikt

VIPAK (Metabolism)

Katu

VIRYA (Potency)

Ushan

PRABHAV (Impact)

Garbhashya-snakochak

PHARMACOLOGICAL ACTION

Antibacterial, Cytotoxic, Bronchodilator, Estrogenic, Antifungal, Antiprotozoal, Anthelmintic,Inscticidal, Hypotensive,Spasmolytic, Anticancer, Antifertility, Antifedant, Analgesic, Antipyretic,

Antitmuour, Antioxidant, Antispasmodic,Antidiabetic, Cardiac depressant, Antifungal

THERAPEUTIC USES

Skin diseases   ·   Urinary tract infection   ·   Abdominal disorders   ·   Anti-pyretic   ·   Uterine disorders

FORMULATIONS (Yog)

Abhaya lavan                  Amritarishta                Ashokarishta

Ashvagandhadi churna           

Astangulavana churna       Ayaskriti

Brihat nrpavallabha rasa

Cukkumtippalyadi gutika   Dadhika ghrita

Dadimastak churna          Gorochanadi vati          Hinguvachadi churna

Hingvadi churna                Kalyanaka guda           Kalyanavaleha

Kankayan gutika              Manikya rasa               Prameha mihira taila

Yavani sandav                  Yavanyadi churna