Nigella damascena

Nigella damascena, Ranunculaceae, Saponins, essential oil (which contains 60% linoleic acid), damascenin (alkaloid), alanine, arginine, vitamin C, asparagine, carvone, glucose, glutamic acid, glycine, iron, leucine, limonene, lysine, methionine, myristic acid, palmitic acid, phenylalanine, phytosterols, potassium, b-sitosterol, stearic acid, stigmasterol, tannins, threonine, quinones, tryptophan, tyrosine
Nigella damascena, Ranunculaceae, Saponins, essential oil (which contains 60% linoleic acid), damascenin (alkaloid), alanine, arginine, vitamin C, asparagine, carvone, glucose, glutamic acid, glycine, iron, leucine, limonene, lysine, methionine, myristic acid, palmitic acid, phenylalanine, phytosterols, potassium, b-sitosterol, stearic acid, stigmasterol, tannins, threonine, quinones, tryptophan, tyrosineNigella damascena, Ranunculaceae, Saponins, essential oil (which contains 60% linoleic acid), damascenin (alkaloid), alanine, arginine, vitamin C, asparagine, carvone, glucose, glutamic acid, glycine, iron, leucine, limonene, lysine, methionine, myristic acid, palmitic acid, phenylalanine, phytosterols, potassium, b-sitosterol, stearic acid, stigmasterol, tannins, threonine, quinones, tryptophan, tyrosineNigella damascena, Ranunculaceae, Saponins, essential oil (which contains 60% linoleic acid), damascenin (alkaloid), alanine, arginine, vitamin C, asparagine, carvone, glucose, glutamic acid, glycine, iron, leucine, limonene, lysine, methionine, myristic acid, palmitic acid, phenylalanine, phytosterols, potassium, b-sitosterol, stearic acid, stigmasterol, tannins, threonine, quinones, tryptophan, tyrosineNigella damascena, Ranunculaceae, Saponins, essential oil (which contains 60% linoleic acid), damascenin (alkaloid), alanine, arginine, vitamin C, asparagine, carvone, glucose, glutamic acid, glycine, iron, leucine, limonene, lysine, methionine, myristic acid, palmitic acid, phenylalanine, phytosterols, potassium, b-sitosterol, stearic acid, stigmasterol, tannins, threonine, quinones, tryptophan, tyrosineNigella damascena, Ranunculaceae, Saponins, essential oil (which contains 60% linoleic acid), damascenin (alkaloid), alanine, arginine, vitamin C, asparagine, carvone, glucose, glutamic acid, glycine, iron, leucine, limonene, lysine, methionine, myristic acid, palmitic acid, phenylalanine, phytosterols, potassium, b-sitosterol, stearic acid, stigmasterol, tannins, threonine, quinones, tryptophan, tyrosine
Botanical Nomenclature Nigella damascena
Common Name Devil In The Bush, Love-In-A-Mist, Ragged Lady
Taxonomy- Family Ranunculaceae
Distinguishing Features of the Plant Nigella damascena is an annual, herbaceous plant growing from 10 to 50cm, with pinnate, green leaves and white, purple, pink or blue flowers. The flowering lasts from June to July and the harvesting takes place from August to September
Region Found Epirus
Part of the Plant with Active Substances Seeds
Active Substances Saponins, essential oil (which contains 60% linoleic acid), damascenin (alkaloid), alanine, arginine, vitamin C, asparagine, carvone, glucose, glutamic acid, glycine, iron, leucine, limonene, lysine, methionine, myristic acid, palmitic acid, phenylalanine, phytosterols, potassium, b-sitosterol, stearic acid, stigmasterol, tannins, threonine, quinones, tryptophan, tyrosine
Pharmacological Effects - Therapeutic Applications The herbal tea is used as antihypertensive, antipyretic, diuretic and antiseptic. Due to the alkaloid of damascenin, which is contained in the seeds and promotes the relaxation of smooth muscle, the plant is mainly used against hypertension. In folk medicine it is recommended for the treatment of fever, arthritic, bronchial asthma, eczema, rheumatism and cough. The plant's extract stimulates the immune system and it is administered to treat common cold, while in India the seeds are used for its sudorific, galactagogue and emmenagogue properties.
Method of Administration The plant is administered as antihypertensive and immune stimulant in the form of herbal tea (1g of dried seeds in 1L of boiled water, 2 cups a day)
Warning: The use of herb preparations is not recommended without seeking advice from your physician or pharmacist. The substances they contain may interact with the subscribed drugs that the patient already takes, thus eliminating their therapeutic efficacy or inducing toxicity. They may also burden further weakened vital functions of the body thus exposing the patient to increased morbidity and life threatened conditions.
Toxicity- Adverse Effects No side effects have been reported.
References 1)Βιβλίο: Οδηγός των φαρμακευτικών φυτών, Paul Schauenberg, Ferdinand Paris, Εκδότης Μ. Γκιούρδας, Αθήνα 1981, σελίδα 260 2)http://www.hort.uconn.edu/plants/c/cormas/cormas1.html 3)UConn Plant Database, University of Connecticut Home and Garden Center 4)http://www.herbalpedia.com/blog/?p=121 5)http://www.botanical-online.com/medicinalsniguellaangles.htm 6)http://practicalplants.org/wiki/Nigella_damascena