Thymoquinone
Also Known As: Nigella sativa, Kalonji, Fennel Flower, nutmeg Flower, Black Caraway, Roman Coriander, Thymoquinone
Nigella sativa (Kalonji or simply Nigella) is an annual flowering plant in the family Ranunculaceae, native to south and southwest Asia. It grows to 20–30 cm (7.9–11.8 in) tall, with finely divided, linear (but not thread-like) leaves. The flowersare delicate, and usually coloured pale blue and white, with five to ten petals. The fruit is a large and inflated capsule composed of three to seven united follicles, each containing numerous seeds which are used as spice, sometimes as a replacement for original black cumin (Bunium bulbocastanum).
In English, Nigella sativa seed is variously called kalonji,[3] fennel flower,[4] nutmeg flower,[4] black caraway,[4] and Roman coriander.[4] Other names used, sometimes misleadingly, are black cumin,[4] onion seed and black sesame.Synonymously, it may be referred to as thymoquinone after its principal extract under preliminary research for several possible effects in humans.[3]
Blackseed and black caraway may also refer to Bunium persicum.[5]
Nigella is used as part of the spice mixture paanch phoran or panch phoron (meaning a mixture of five spices) and by itself in many recipes in Bengali cuisine and most recognizably in naan bread.[6]
Mainly for its seed oil extract, thymoquinone, Nigella is under research for its potential to affect human diseases,[12] such as cancer or metabolic syndrome.[13][14]
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