THERAPEUTIC POTENTIAL OF BLACK CUMIN SEEDS (KALAJIRI): A MIRACULOUS HERB

Black cumin seeds commonly known as ‘Bitter cumin’(kalajiri) & also named as Centratherum anthelminticum, a traditional Ayurvedic herb which has been used since centuries for curing common ailments such as fever, cough, and diarrhea and it is also used as a general tonic. C. anthelminticum has wide range of secondary metabolites such as: aliphatic fatty acids, flavones, saponins, steroids and glycosides. The extract of this herb possess a wide range of pharmacological activities such as: analgesic, antibacterial, antifungal, antidiuretic, anti-filarial, anti-helminthic, anti-diabetic, antimicrobial, antimalarial and antipyretic properties. This review is an effort to summarize the different therapeutic effects of black cumin with responsible bioactive constitutes in detail.