Synopsis

Source of validity: Traditional
Rating (out of 5): 2

Black cumin (Nigella sativa) has been used in traditional medicine systems across Africa, the Middle East, and South Asia for a wide range of ailments, including infectious diseases like malaria. The seeds and their oil have a long history in Unani, Ayurvedic, and Islamic medicine as remedies for fever, inflammation, and parasitic infections. Although malaria itself is not always explicitly named, its symptoms—such as recurrent fever and chills—are often targeted by black cumin remedies in traditional pharmacopoeias.

There is some preclinical scientific interest in black cumin's potential antimalarial properties. Laboratory studies have shown that extracts of Nigella sativa possess in vitro activity against Plasmodium species (the parasites responsible for malaria). For example, research published in the last decade has demonstrated moderate antiplasmodial effects of black cumin extracts in mouse models and cell cultures. The presumed mechanisms include antioxidant effects, immunomodulation, and direct antiparasitic actions of thymoquinone—the major bioactive compound in black cumin.

However, clinical studies in humans are lacking, and there is insufficient evidence to recommend black cumin as a standalone or primary treatment for malaria. Its use remains primarily justified by tradition and supported by low-level preclinical evidence, rather than robust scientific validation. Black cumin is sometimes used as an adjunct to conventional antimalarial drugs in traditional settings, but more research is needed to confirm its efficacy and safety for this purpose.

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