Department of Anatomy, Dongguk University College of Medicine, Gyeongju 38066, Korea.
Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensingh 2202, Bangladesh.
Nutrients. 2021 May 24;13(6):1784. doi: 10.3390/nu13061784.
Mounting evidence support the potential benefits of functional foods or nutraceuticals for human health and diseases. Black cumin ( L.), a highly valued nutraceutical herb with a wide array of health benefits, has attracted growing interest from health-conscious individuals, the scientific community, and pharmaceutical industries. The pleiotropic pharmacological effects of black cumin, and its main bioactive component thymoquinone (TQ), have been manifested by their ability to attenuate oxidative stress and inflammation, and to promote immunity, cell survival, and energy metabolism, which underlie diverse health benefits, including protection against metabolic, cardiovascular, digestive, hepatic, renal, respiratory, reproductive, and neurological disorders, cancer, and so on. Furthermore, black cumin acts as an antidote, mitigating various toxicities and drug-induced side effects. Despite significant advances in pharmacological benefits, this miracle herb and its active components are still far from their clinical application. This review begins with highlighting the research trends in black cumin and revisiting phytochemical profiles. Subsequently, pharmacological attributes and health benefits of black cumin and TQ are critically reviewed. We overview molecular pharmacology to gain insight into the underlying mechanism of health benefits. Issues related to pharmacokinetic herb-drug interactions, drug delivery, and safety are also addressed. Identifying knowledge gaps, our current effort will direct future research to advance potential applications of black cumin and TQ in health and diseases.
越来越多的证据支持功能性食品或营养保健品对人类健康和疾病的潜在益处。黑孜然（L.）是一种具有广泛健康益处的高价值营养保健品，受到越来越多关注健康的个人、科学界和制药行业的关注。黑孜然的多种药理学作用及其主要生物活性成分百里醌（TQ），通过减轻氧化应激和炎症，以及促进免疫、细胞存活和能量代谢，表现出其对多种健康益处的作用，包括预防代谢、心血管、消化、肝、肾、呼吸、生殖和神经障碍、癌症等。此外，黑孜然还具有解毒作用，减轻各种毒性和药物引起的副作用。尽管在药理学方面取得了重大进展，但这种神奇的草药及其活性成分仍远未应用于临床。本综述首先强调了黑孜然的研究趋势，并重新审视了其植物化学特征。随后，对黑孜然和 TQ 的药理学特性和健康益处进行了批判性评价。我们概述了分子药理学，以深入了解健康益处的潜在机制。还涉及与药代动力学草药-药物相互作用、药物传递和安全性相关的问题。确定知识差距是我们当前努力的方向，旨在为黑孜然和 TQ 在健康和疾病中的潜在应用提供指导。
