Nigella Sativa

Other names Black Seed Oil, Black Cumin Seed Oil, Kalonji Oil, Nigella Sativa L. Seed Extract

Nigella sativa is gaining popularity as a potentially mood-lifting nootropic which may also improve memory and energy levels. But is it effective for these purposes? Read on to find out what the science says.

This nootropic has no healthy human placebo-controlled studies that meet our inclusion criteria. Negative side effects can occur if used carelessly, so make sure you’re aware of the risks of Nigella Sativa.

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Benefits

Read about the effects of Nigella Sativa in relation to the amount of evidence we've found

Can nigella sativa enhance memory, attention, or cognition?

In one study [1], 20 participants received 500mg nigella sativa twice daily, and 20 participants received a placebo for nine weeks.

A total of 15 measures of memory, attention, and cognition were given to the healthy elderly participants for the assessment of cognitive performance before and after nigella sativa or placebo.

Out of these 15 measures, there were significant beneficial effects from nigella sativa compared with placebo on 11 measures of cognitive performance. Specifically, improvements were seen in tests of short-term memory, episodic memory, long-term memory, logical memory, speed of information processing, executive functions, response inhibition, visuospatial abilities, attention, planning, and working memory.

In another study, 24 healthy adolescent participants were given a placebo, and another 24 participants were given 500mg nigella sativa once daily for four weeks [2].

One of the measures of short-term memory showed improvements and all of the measures of long-term memory showed improvements when nigella sativa was compared with placebo.

These results are very promising. Nigella sativa appears to be an effective cognitive enhancer both in healthy elderly and younger participants.

However, it should be kept in mind that the body of research on the cognitive effects of nigella sativa is small, so future research may or may not find opposite results to those observed in the studies that have been conducted so far.

Nigella sativa has also been found to enhance spatial working memory performance in a rat study [3].

Very little data is available on the effects of nigella sativa on cognition, memory, and attention. The data that does exist suggests cognitive-enhancing effects across all aspects of cognitive functioning in healthy people.

Can nigella sativa improve mood and increase exploratory behavior?

In 24 healthy adolescents, 500mg nigella sativa daily for 4 weeks resulted in an improved mood when compared with baseline scores, but not when compared with the placebo control group. Trait anxiety scores were also reduced within the group, but not between the groups, suggesting a possible increase in the tendency for exploratory behavior. Considering that the placebo group experienced similar improvements, no benefits on mood or exploratory behavior can be attributed to nigella sativa based on this study alone.

In a rat study, 4 weeks of nigella sativa oil administration resulted in increased exploratory behavior [4]. In another rat study, a nigella sativa extract increased exploratory behavior after 6 weeks [5]. In a study on the effects of nigella sativa on mice, it was found that it increased exploratory behavior [6].

The authors of one rat study concluded that nigella sativa reduced stress [7], and the authors of a mice study concluded that nigella sativa improved mood and energy levels [8].

All of the studies that we have found on nigella sativa show promising results, but the quality of the evidence is low. Only one small human study and animal studies have been conducted on the affective effects of nigella sativa.

The image science has painted so far of what the true effects of nigella sativa are on exploratory behavior and mood in healthy humans is blurry.

Risks

The legality and side effects of Nigella Sativa

You should always consider the risks of a nootropic before you use it.

Negative side effects of Nigella sativa

In one study, thirty-nine obese participants were divided into a control group and a Nigella sativa group. The patients were given a placebo or 3000mg Nigella sativa daily for 3 months. Nigella sativa use resulted in no negative side effects during this period [9].

In another study, no negative side effects were reported from 8 weeks of use of 5ml Nigella sativa oil daily [10].

No negative side effects were reported in any of the studies mentioned above in the benefits section.

Consumption of 1.5g black seeds daily had no negative side effects compared with placebo when used for 8 weeks in another study [12].

To conclude, Nigella sativa has been found free of negative side effects in several studies with several hundred participants in total. In these studies, it has been given to participants for a maximum duration of 8 weeks daily. It is important to not use too much, remember that the dose makes the poison, so even though Nigella sativa is safe in the doses studied, it can definitely have negative side effects if used carelessly. For information about how often and how much to use Nigella sativa, see the FAQ's below.

Daily use of Nigella sativa in the very long term has not been studied in humans, but consumption of appropriate doses for up to eight weeks has been found very safe.

Side effects

Interactions

Supplements and drugs can interact with Nigella Sativa to increase or decrease the positive or negative effects you experience. If you are already using any supplements or drugs, speak with your trusted medical professional before you experiment with Nigella Sativa. To learn more about the potential interactions between Nigella Sativa and other substances, use interaction-checker.

Legality

Is your country not included? Learn how to find out if Nigella Sativa is legal in your country.

Legality Disclaimer

FAQ

Frequently asked questions about Nigella Sativa

Which active ingredients are relevant to nigella sativa's effects on cognition and mood?

The most important active ingredient in nigella sativa products is likely thymoquinone.

Other ingredients that may be involved in the cognitive effects of nigella sativa include thymohydroquinone, dithymoquinone, p-cymene, carvacrol, 4-terpineol, t-anethol, sesquiterpene longifolene, α-pinene, and thymol [16].

What's the difference between black seed oil and black seed extract powder?

The two most common forms of nigella sativa, which are also the most studied ones for cognition- and mood-enhancement, are the oil (usually tincture) and extract (usually powder or capsules) forms.

Both of these forms of consumption contain varying amounts of different active ingredients. There's also a certain degree of difference in how much of a given active ingredient will be present in the product of a specific brand. This means that for example, not all nigella sativa oils are the same.

Considering that thymoquinone is likely the most important active ingredient in nigella sativa products, we suggest that you choose a form and brand that lets you be certain of how much thymoquinone you're getting. Nootropics Depot sells nigella sativa extract powder (or capsules). You can buy nigella sativa from them via our link by clicking the green buy button on this page (or click here to go to their product page for nigella sativa).

How much and how often should you use nigella sativa?

Dependent on if you are looking to use the oil or extract, you will want to use different doses.

Different doses are likely to be effective for different people, and an optimal dose has not been established since the science is still at a preliminary stage.

In the studies which found cognitive effects from nigella sativa in healthy humans, 500-1000mg of the extract powder was used. Different extracts are likely going to contain different amounts of active ingredients. Patient self-experimentation starting from a low dose is the only way to safely find a dose that's effective for you.

What time of day should you take nigella sativa?

Considering nigella sativa might increase exploratory behavior (see benefits section above), it might be best to take it in the morning.

However, there's no reason to believe nigella sativa would reduce sleep quality or increase the time it takes to fall asleep.

How does nigella sativa work in the brain?

The neuropsychopharmacological effects of nigella sativa have not yet fully been discovered by researchers.

Here are some of the mechanisms which researchers have explored and found involved in the effects of the spice on mood and cognition:

After four weeks of daily administration of nigella sativa oil to rats, serotonin metabolites (5-HIAA) decreased, and serotonin (5-HT) was increased [4]. Brain and plasma levels of the serotonin precursor tryptophan were also increased
A meta-analysis on studies in which 293 humans received nigella sativa concluded that it improved levels of the antioxidant enzyme superoxide dismutase [20]
Thyroid hormones increased, specifically T3 and T4 levels significantly increased and TSH serum level significantly decreased in mice that had received nigella sativa compared with mice who had received (presumably inactive) water [8]
Decreased blood glucose, cholesterol, and triglycerides in rats [7]
Thymoquinone, an active ingredient in nigella sativa products, increased GABA in unstressed mice, but only when given in high doses. In stressed mice, thymoquinone given in high and low doses led to the prevention of decreased GABA levels in the brain [6]

Is nigella sativa neuroprotective?

In one rat study, it was concluded that:

"The results suggest that Nigella sativa oil (NSO) and its active component, TQ, clearly protect brain tissue from radiation-induced oxidative stress." [24]

It has also been found that nigella sativa extracts can be neuroprotective in rats with insufficient cerebral blood flow (reduced CBF leads to lack of oxygen and glucose supply for neurons, which can lead to neuron death, but nigella sativa prevented this) [25].

Thymoquinone, an active ingredient in nigella sativa, protected dopaminergic neurons in a cell study [26].

Whether nigella sativa is neuroprotective in humans is not known, and more research is needed before it can be known.

How does it feel when you take nigella sativa?

The following qualitative user experience reports and reviews are included to give you an understanding of what the experience of taking nigella sativa is like.

Anecdotal nigella sativa experience reports and reviews from Reddit

One person reported improved sleeping patterns as well as the following:

"I have been thinking like ”if i should go to city center to have coffee today” that i dont really liked to do before because of anxiety. feels like the black seed oil extract changed my mindset somehow?" [27]

Another person reported these effects:

"It really makes me not give a fuck about anything, which I like, and I am strangely dependant on its effects." [28]

Another person also noted dependence after prolonged daily use [29].

Yet another redditor said they experienced the following benefits from the use of nigella sativa:

"Some of the benefits I've experienced:

More concentration. Like there was a brain fog that disappeared.
A flow in speaking, like words coming up magically when speaking with someone.
A 90% decrease in anxiety. Things like talking to a group feels very natural now. I could talk to a group before taking the black seeds, but it was always with a rush of anxiety I felt in my body. That "anxiety rush" is now gone." [30]

Another person reported that nigella sativa helped them get enough motivation to exercise after a long period of not doing so and that it also gave them the following benefits:

"The first day I immediately felt a boost in my mood and motivation, work was much easier to get through and I cleaned my apartment after work. The first week continued on like this, more motivation and less toxic thoughts. Second week rolls around and the effects have started to level, mostly getting antidepressant effects but also anxiolytic effects." [31]

Studies

Studies conducted on the effects of Nigella Sativa in healthy humans

Last updated Saturday, June 10, 2023