Nigella, or black cumin, is among the most studied plants for cholesterol and blood pressure. The data exists: in a 2026 meta-analysis combining 31 trials and 2,145 participants with metabolic disorders, its use was associated, in the 13 trials measuring blood pressure (834 participants), with an average decrease of 3.25 mmHg in systolic pressure. The authors themselves consider this effect modest: it remains to be seen what these figures represent, for whom, and with what precautions.
This guide brings together meta-analyses and trials identified via PubMed on lipids and blood pressure, the forms and doses tested, the magnitude compared to lifestyle and treatments, then documented interactions with medications. For a comprehensive overview of the plant, our article on the benefits of nigella oil complements this one.
Cholesterol : in meta-analyses, nigella is associated with an average decrease in LDL-cholesterol of approximately 14 to 22 mg/dL, or 0.36 to 0.58 mmol/L, and total cholesterol of 9 to 23 mg/dL depending on populations. Results on triglycerides and HDL are less consistent. Trials are numerous but small and short, using very different powders, oils, and extracts.
Blood pressure : three meta-analyses converge on an average decrease of approximately 3 mmHg in systolic and 2.7 to 2.8 mmHg in diastolic pressure, with high heterogeneity. This is a magnitude close to that of a lower-salt or DASH-type diet, significantly lower than that of an antihypertensive at standard dose. Nigella can accompany a comprehensive approach, never replace treatment, and should be discussed with your doctor if taking anticoagulants, antiplatelet agents, or antihypertensives.
- What researchers actually tested
- LDL and total cholesterol: the meta-analyses
- Triglycerides and HDL: less consistent results
- Cholesterol trials, one by one
- Blood pressure: three meta-analyses
- Blood pressure trials
- Mechanisms: what comes from animal studies
- Magnitude: lifestyle and treatments
- Forms and doses studied
- Interactions with medications
- For whom, and how to discuss it with your doctor
- Frequently Asked Questions
What researchers actually tested
The trials used ground seeds in capsules (0.5 to 3 g per day),pressed oil in capsules or by the spoonful (0.9 g to 5 mL per day), and concentrated extracts at a few hundred milligrams. Their effects differ: one meta-analysis finds a more pronounced effect of oil on LDL, another a more pronounced effect of powder on blood pressure. In this guide, each result is therefore linked to its form and dose.
The largest meta-analysis published to date brings together 82 studies and 5,026 participants, with durations of 1 to 48 weeks and doses of 200 to 4,600 mg per day; it concludes with an improvement in numerous markers, including LDL, HDL, triglycerides, and blood pressure, and presents black seed as a possible supplement, not as a treatment. In the 2026 meta-analysis of 31 trials, only 12 out of 31 trials were deemed to be of good quality (10 according to their discussion), sample sizes ranged from 38 to 144 participants, and durations from 4 to 24 weeks.
The trials were conducted in Iran, Iraq, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Malaysia, Indonesia, or the United Arab Emirates. Several were single-blind or without true placebo, and few specified the thymoquinone content of the product, the most studied molecule in the seed.
A meta-analysis combines trials to estimate an average effect; their dispersion, or heterogeneity, is measured by the I² index, from 0 to 100%. Beyond 75%, the average encompasses highly dispersed results: it indicates a trend, not a promise for each individual.
LDL and total cholesterol: the meta-analyses
Black seed was associated with a decrease in total cholesterol of 15.65 mg/dL, LDL cholesterol of 14.10 mg/dL, and triglycerides of 20.64 mg/dL, with no significant effect on HDL (+0.28 mg/dL). Seed oil had a more pronounced effect than powder on total cholesterol and LDL, while an increase in HDL appeared only with the powder.
Sahebkar A, Beccuti G, Simental-Mendía LE, et al. Pharmacol Res 2016;106:37-50. DOI: 10.1016/j.phrs.2016.02.008
With more trials, the estimate remains stable. A 2020 meta-analysis covering 50 trials found a decrease of 16.80 mg/dL in total cholesterol, 18.45 mg/dL in LDL, and 15.73 mg/dL in triglycerides. Converted by us, these values represent approximately 0.43 mmol/L of total cholesterol and 0.48 mmol/L of LDL. In people with high cholesterol, a 2021 meta-analysis devoted to plants from Ayurvedic tradition reports for black seed a smaller decrease in total cholesterol, of 9.28 mg/dL.
In people with type 2 diabetes, two meta-analyses find slightly higher figures. From 16 trials, the decrease reaches 18.80 mg/dL of total cholesterol and 19.53 mg/dL of LDL, with a more pronounced effect on LDL beyond 1 g per day and with oil. An older analysis of 7 trials found −22.99 mg/dL of total cholesterol and −22.38 mg/dL of LDL, while emphasizing the small number of studies.
| Summary | Population | Result on cholesterol |
|---|---|---|
| 17 trials versus placebo, Sahebkar, 2016 | Adults, varied profiles | LDL −14.10 mg/dL, total −15.65 mg/dL, HDL unchanged |
| 50 trials, Hallajzadeh, 2020 | Adults, varied profiles | LDL −18.45 mg/dL, total −16.80 mg/dL |
| Trials on hypercholesterolemia, Gyawali, 2021 | Elevated cholesterol | Total −9.28 mg/dL |
| 16 trials, Karimi, 2025 | Type 2 diabetes | LDL −19.53 mg/dL, total −18.80 mg/dL, HDL and triglycerides unchanged |
| 7 trials, Daryabeygi-Khotbehsara, 2017 | Type 2 diabetes | LDL −22.38 mg/dL, total −22.99 mg/dL |
Triglycerides and HDL: less consistent results
For triglycerides, general meta-analyses find a decrease of 15 to 21 mg/dL, or about 0.2 mmol/L. In people with diabetes, the picture changes: neither the meta-analysis of 16 trials nor the one of 7 trials found an overall effect. In the latter, seed oil was associated with a decrease of 14.8 mg/dL, whereas powder was associated with an increase of 29.4 mg/dL. A result therefore does not transfer from one formulation to another.
In Iran, in 90 obese women, 3 g of oil per day, at 1 g before each meal, for 8 weeks combined with a low-calorie diet, lowered triglycerides by 14.0%, compared to a 1.4% increase under placebo, and weight by 6.0%, compared to 3.6%. The diet was part of the protocol for both groups: the difference measures the addition of oil, not an effect of oil alone.
For HDL, the good cholesterol, results are mixed. The meta-analysis of 17 trials found no overall effect, except with powder. In people with prediabetes or diabetes, a meta-analysis of 11 trials found no overall effect, but an increase in those whose baseline HDL was below 40 mg/dL. In people with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, a synthesis of 5 trials and 358 participants observed the opposite—an improvement in HDL, with no effect on total cholesterol, LDL, or triglycerides.
The most consistent signal concerns LDL and total cholesterol. For triglycerides and HDL, the response depends on the formulation used and the baseline profile.
Cholesterol trials one by one
In Isfahan, Iran, 88 adults with total cholesterol above 200 mg/dL received 2 g per day of ground seeds in capsules or placebo for 4 weeks. In the black seed group (74 participants analyzed according to the 2026 meta-analysis), the authors report a decrease of 4.78% in total cholesterol, 7.6% in LDL, and 16.65% in triglycerides, with no effect on HDL or blood glucose, without detailing in their abstract the difference from placebo, and call for larger trials.
In 37 postmenopausal women aged 45 to 60 with elevated cholesterol in Malaysia, 1 g per day of seed powder after breakfast for two months lowered total cholesterol by 16.09%, LDL by 26.67%, and triglycerides by 22.16% compared to baseline, more than placebo. For HDL, the abstract and full text contradict each other; the text indicates a change similar to placebo. One month after stopping, values increased: LDL rose from 3.41 to 3.78 mmol/L.
Ibrahim RM, Hamdan NS, Mahmud R, et al. J Transl Med 2014;12:82. DOI: 10.1186/1479-5876-12-82
Not all trials are equally favorable. In Karachi, Pakistan, a double-blind trial with seed powder in capsules, 1 g per day for 6 weeks according to the 2026 meta-analysis, lost some participants: 73 of 123 completed. Trends were favorable for nearly all parameters, but none were statistically significant. In the United Arab Emirates, in a four-arm trial (black seed, ginger, cinnamon, placebo; 97 participants at completion), described as single-blind in its methods, 3 g per day of freshly ground seeds, taken with hot water for 12 weeks, was followed by a decrease of 13 mg/dL in total cholesterol and only 2 mg/dL in LDL in the black seed group, in young adults (average 26 years) at risk for metabolic syndrome.
Our organic black seed powder is made from ground organic black seeds: its product information sheet does not indicate a dose, and none of these trials tested this product. Its quantity should be discussed with your doctor or pharmacist, especially if you are on treatment.
In Saudi Arabia, 114 people with type 2 diabetes on oral antidiabetic drugs received 2 g of black seed per day or placebo for one year : total cholesterol and LDL decreased, HDL increased, compared to the control group. But the trial was not randomized, and 18 patients were lost to follow-up. Finally, in 258 dyslipidemic patients, a mixture of black seed and garlic added to simvastatin improved lipid profile more than simvastatin alone over 8 weeks; the mixture makes it impossible to attribute the effect to black seed alone.
Blood pressure: three meta-analyses
In 860 hypertensive or non-hypertensive participants, after an average of 8.3 weeks, black seed reduced systolic blood pressure by 3.26 mmHg and diastolic by 2.80 mmHg more than control groups, with moderate heterogeneity (I² of 59 and 60 %). Powder had a more marked effect than oil. No correlation was found between the decrease in systolic pressure and treatment duration, dose, or type of preparation, and the authors call for longer-term data.
Sahebkar A, Soranna D, Liu X, et al. J Hypertens 2016;34(11):2127-2135. DOI: 10.1097/HJH.0000000000001049
In 2023, an updated meta-analysis found −3.06 mmHg for systolic and −2.69 mmHg for diastolic, but with heterogeneity of 84.7% and 97.3%. In 2026, the review limited to people with metabolic disorders, with 13 trials and 834 participants for blood pressure, found −3.25 mmHg and −2.75 mmHg, with heterogeneity of 74.1% and 97.9%. The decrease in diastolic only appeared in those over 50 years old. Visual examination of the graphs suggested possible asymmetry, a sign that small negative trials may have remained unpublished, although statistical tests did not confirm this.
The 2026 authors state this clearly: a drop of 2 to 3 mmHg over trials of 4 to 24 weeks is modest. They recall that a 5 mmHg decrease is generally considered the threshold for significant clinical improvement, and judge it unlikely that black seed alone would provide substantial benefit. Their table judges the certainty as high for systolic and diastolic, without noting inconsistency despite heterogeneity of 74 and 98%, whereas their discussion calls it moderate for systolic: an inconsistency that warrants caution.
| Meta-analysis | Systolic | Diastolic |
|---|---|---|
| 11 trials, 860 participants, Sahebkar, 2016 | −3.26 mmHg (I² 59%) | −2.80 mmHg (I² 60%) |
| Updated, Kavyani, 2023 | −3.06 mmHg (I² 84.7%) | −2.69 mmHg (I² 97.3%) |
| 13 trials, 834 participants, metabolic disorders, Musazadeh, 2026 | −3.25 mmHg (I² 74.1%) | −2.75 mmHg (I² 97.9%) |
The blood pressure trials
The first frequently cited trial involved an extract of seeds. In men with mild hypertension, 108 according to the 2026 meta-analysis table, 100 or 200 mg of extract twice daily for 8 weeks reduced systolic and diastolic pressure more than placebo, with an effect that increased with dose. Total cholesterol and LDL also decreased compared to baseline. These results from a concentrated extract do not translate to either oil or powder.
In 70 healthy volunteers aged 34 to 63 years, whose systolic pressure was between 110 and 140 mmHg, 2.5 mL of black seed oil twice daily for 8 weeks reduced systolic and diastolic pressure compared to baseline and placebo. Liver and kidney markers did not change, and no adverse effects were reported.
Fallah Huseini H, Amini M, Mohtashami R, et al. Phytother Res 2013;27(12):1849-1853. DOI: 10.1002/ptr.4944
The same dose was tested in hypertensive patients, this time in addition to their usual treatment. For 8 weeks, 26 patients received 2.5 mL of black seed oil twice daily, and 29 received sunflower oil. Systolic pressure decreased more with black seed than with placebo; diastolic pressure, total cholesterol, and LDL decreased, HDL increased, with no reported adverse effects. The effect thus adds to that of medications, which justifies monitoring blood pressure.
These two trials used 5 mL of oil per day total. Our Egyptian black seed oil capsules provide 1 g of oil per day for two capsules: this is a significantly lower amount, comparable to trials at 1 g of oil per day identified in the 2026 meta-analysis, conducted in people with diabetes, fatty liver disease, or polycystic ovaries, and none of these trials tested our capsules.
Not all trials found an effect: in postmenopausal women as in the Emirates, the powder did not significantly modify blood pressure. In elderly hypertensive individuals, a randomized double-blind trial conducted in Jakarta and identified in the 2026 meta-analysis found no effect: in 76 patients around 73 years old, 300 mg of extract twice daily for 28 days lowered systolic pressure from 160 to 146 mmHg, compared to 161 to 148 mmHg under placebo, a non-significant difference. Digestive disorders were reported in approximately one in six patients. In the non-randomized Saudi trial lasting one year, systolic pressure, diastolic pressure, and heart rate decreased in the black seed group, with the methodological caveats already mentioned.
Mechanisms: what comes from animal studies
In rats made hypertensive by blocking nitric oxide production, thymoquinone given at 0.5 or 1 mg per kilogram per day for 4 weeks limited the increase in systolic pressure, especially at higher doses, and protected the kidneys, an action attributed by the authors to its antioxidant properties. In rabbits fed a high-cholesterol diet, seed powder (1,000 mg per kilogram) and oil (500 mg per kilogram) for 8 weeks lowered total cholesterol and LDL, raised HDL, and slowed plaque formation in arteries, in a study that also compared simvastatin. In another rabbit study, thymoquinone at 10 mg per kilogram reduced total cholesterol by 26%, LDL by 29%, and the extent of atherosclerosis by 40%.
These models artificially induce hypertension or excess cholesterol, at doses not translatable to humans: they shed light on possible mechanisms, without demonstrating benefit. In humans, no trial has measured the effect of black seed on atherosclerotic plaques, heart attacks, or strokes.
Order of magnitude: lifestyle and treatments
For blood pressure, the average effects of black seed align with those of several lifestyle measures. For salt: in a meta-analysis of 133 studies and 12,197 participants, an average decrease of 130 mmol of urinary sodium per day was accompanied by −4.26 mmHg of systolic and −2.07 mmHg of diastolic pressure. The DASH diet, designed for blood pressure, reduced pressure by 3.2 and 2.5 mmHg in 30 trials, with moderate certainty. Physical activity performs at least as well: across 270 trials, endurance reduced pressure by 4.49 and 2.53 mmHg, dynamic resistance training by 4.55 and 3.04 mmHg, and isometric exercises, like wall sits, by 8.24 and 4.00 mmHg. Weight loss also helps, at roughly 1 mmHg of systolic per kilogram lost.
In an analysis of 354 trials, each of the five major antihypertensive drug classes lowered pressure by an average of 9.1 and 5.5 mmHg at standard dose, and the effects of multiple classes added together. For cholesterol, a statin like atorvastatin at 10 mg per day reduces LDL by approximately 1.8 mmol/L, or 40%, starting from 4.8 mmol/L. The average LDL reduction associated with black seed in meta-analyses, of 0.36 to 0.58 mmol/L, represents approximately one-quarter of this (between one-fifth and one-third depending on the meta-analysis), according to our calculation.
| Measure | Average effect measured | Data |
|---|---|---|
| Black seed, varied forms and doses | Approximately −3 mmHg of systolic; LDL −0.36 to −0.58 mmol/L | Meta-analyses of short, heterogeneous trials |
| Less salt, approximately 130 mmol less sodium per day | −4.26 mmHg of systolic | 133 studies |
| DASH diet | −3.2 mmHg of systolic | 30 trials, moderate certainty |
| Exercise of endurance or isometric type | −4.49 to −8.24 mmHg of systolic | 270 trials |
| Weight loss, approximately 5 kilograms | −4.44 mmHg of systolic | 25 trials |
| An antihypertensive at standard dose | −9.1 mmHg systolic | 354 trials |
| Atorvastatin at 10 mg per day | LDL −1.8 mmol/L, or −40 % | 164 trials |
The essential difference lies in what was measured. For treatments, very large trials measured clinical events: in 26 trials and approximately 170,000 participants, each 1 mmol/L decrease in LDL under statin therapy reduced major vascular events by approximately 22%; in 123 studies and over 600,000 participants, each 10 mmHg decrease in systolic pressure reduced major cardiovascular events by 20%, strokes by 27%, and mortality by 13%. For black seed, no trial measured these events: we cannot deduce a heart benefit from its effects on markers.
Our guide on High LDL-cholesterol compares other plants and nutrients studied on this marker.
Forms and doses studied
Foroil, trials on blood pressure used 2.5 mL twice daily, or 5 mL per day, and other trials used 0.9 to 5 g per day, most often in capsules. For powder, doses ranged from 0.5 to 3 g per day. For extracts, 200 to 600 mg per day. Durations rarely exceeded 12 weeks, and the effect on lipids faded one month after stopping in postmenopausal women.
No optimal dose is established. The 2016 meta-analysis on blood pressure finds no link between dose and effect; the 2025 one in people with diabetes finds a more marked effect on LDL beyond 1 g per day and with oil. For those who want an oil to dose themselves, our Ethiopian black seed oil is used by the spoonful: for internal use, the instructions indicate 1 to 3 teaspoons per day. As a practical reference, one teaspoon contains approximately 5 mL, the daily quantity used in blood pressure trials. This oil was not tested in those trials.
Capsules offer a fixed dose and no taste, oil in a bottle allows you to adjust the quantity and cook with it. A reasonable approach, to be validated with your doctor:
Drug interactions
Documented interactions are based on very different levels of evidence, which must be distinguished.
Blood pressure medications. In hypertensive patients being treated, the added oil lowered systolic pressure more than placebo, with no reported adverse effects. In hypertensive rats, black seed did not change amlodipine blood concentrations, but the combination controlled blood pressure better than amlodipine alone. The theoretical risk is therefore an additive effect, hence the importance of monitoring blood pressure and reporting dizziness or lightheadedness.
Anticoagulants and antiplatelet agents. In the laboratory, thymoquinone slows a liver enzyme that metabolizes warfarin, and the authors estimate through modeling that taking more than 1 g daily of black seed or oil could alter the fate of this medication in the body. This is a prediction based on in vitro data, not an observation in patients. A clinical case published in 2026 describes extensive bruising under the skin in a 51-year-old man receiving chemotherapy, two antiplatelet agents, and 2,000 mg of black seed oil daily, with low platelet counts: the bruising resolved within 10 days after stopping the suspected products, and resuming the oil at 1,000 mg daily did not cause recurrence. The authors consider the link possible but cannot confirm it due to numerous other bleeding risk factors.
While taking anticoagulants or antiplatelet agents : do not use black seed without your doctor's approval, and disclose it before any surgery or dental work. While taking blood pressure or blood sugar medication : medical advice and monitoring of blood pressure or blood sugar, as effects may be additive. While taking immunosuppressants, such as cyclosporine: medical advice is essential. Pregnancy and children : our capsules are not recommended for children, adolescents, or pregnant or breastfeeding women; our oil in bottle form is not recommended for children or pregnant women, with medical advice during breastfeeding. Do not exceed the recommended dose. Our article on the dangers of black seed oil details known adverse effects.
Other medications. In four healthy volunteers, 2.5 g of seeds twice daily for seven days slowed the metabolism of a test medication by two liver enzymes, CYP2D6 and CYP3A4, which metabolize many medications; the authors conclude there is potential for interaction with medications eliminated by these pathways. In rabbits, black seed reduced the peak blood level of cyclosporine, an immunosuppressant, by 35.5% and its total exposure by 55.9%. For blood sugar medications, the 2026 meta-analysis associates black seed with an average fasting blood glucose reduction of 18.62 mg/dL, an effect that may be additive to that of treatment: blood glucose monitoring is prudent.
Who should use it, and how to discuss it with your doctor
Black seed has primarily been studied in adults with moderately elevated cholesterol, mild hypertension, or metabolic disorder. When cardiovascular risk justifies treatment, its effects are not sufficient to replace it: the difference from a statin or blood pressure medication is significant, and only these treatments have demonstrated a reduction in heart attacks and strokes.
If you wish to try it, discuss it with your doctor, specifying the form, dose, and product, as well as the medications you are taking. Ask to repeat the testing after 8 to 12 weeks, the duration of most trials. Adverse effects reported in trials are generally mild, but trials are short and their safety monitoring is often incomplete.
Blood pressure measured at home that remains elevated despite treatment, dizziness or lightheadedness when standing up, unusual bleeding from gums or nose, or unexplained bruising should prompt you to stop black seed and contact a doctor promptly.
Cold-pressed black seed oil (Nigella sativa) from Egypt, combined with vitamin E, in tasteless capsules. Two capsules daily with meals provide 1 g of black seed oil and 15 mg of vitamin E, a fixed dose that is simple to integrate into a regimen monitored by your doctor.
View black seed capsulesOur selection of plants for blood pressure compares the other options studied.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does black seed lower cholesterol?
In meta-analyses of randomized trials, it is associated with an average decrease in LDL-cholesterol of 14 to 22 mg/dL approximately, or 0.36 to 0.58 mmol/L, and total cholesterol of 9 to 23 mg/dL depending on the populations. The trials are short and small, and the effect varies depending on the form used.
Does black seed oil lower blood pressure?
Three meta-analyses found an average decrease of approximately 3 mmHg in systolic and 2.7 to 2.8 mmHg in diastolic pressure, with high heterogeneity. In two 8-week trials, 2.5 mL of oil twice daily lowered blood pressure in healthy volunteers and then in treated hypertensive patients. In elderly hypertensive individuals, a 4-week trial with an extract found no significant effect.
Can black seed replace a statin?
No. A statin like atorvastatin 10 mg lowers LDL by approximately 1.8 mmol/L, black seed by approximately 0.4 to 0.6 mmol/L on average, and only statins have demonstrated a reduction in heart attacks and strokes. Never stop a treatment without consulting your doctor.
Can black seed be taken with blood pressure medication?
Only with your doctor's approval. In a trial in treated hypertensive patients, the oil added to treatment lowered blood pressure more than placebo: the effects can be additive. Monitor your blood pressure and report any dizziness or discomfort.
Is black seed compatible with anticoagulants?
Not without medical advice. In the laboratory, thymoquinone slows a liver enzyme that metabolizes warfarin, and one case of hematoma was reported in a patient taking two antiplatelet agents and chemotherapy who was taking 2,000 mg of oil daily. The link remains possible but unproven.
What dose of black seed was used in the trials?
From 0.5 to 3 g daily for seed powder, from 0.9 g to 5 mL daily for the oil, and from 200 to 600 mg daily for extracts. No optimal dose is established, and the dose indicated on the product must be followed.
Black seed oil or powder: which for cholesterol?
In a meta-analysis of 17 trials, oil had a more pronounced effect than powder on total cholesterol and LDL. In diabetics, oil was associated with a decrease in triglycerides and powder with an increase. The two forms are not interchangeable.
Does black seed lower triglycerides?
In general reviews, the average decrease is 15 to 21 mg/dL. In people with diabetes, no overall effect appears. In obese women following a diet, 3 g of oil daily for 8 weeks reduced triglycerides by 14.0%, compared to a 1.4% increase under placebo.
Does black seed protect the heart?
We don't know. The trials measured markers like LDL or blood pressure, never heart attacks or strokes. Protective effects on the arteries were observed in animals, which does not constitute proof in humans.
Who should not take black seed?
Our capsules are not recommended for children, adolescents, and pregnant or nursing women; our oil is not recommended for children and pregnant women. Medical advice is necessary when taking anticoagulants, antiplatelet agents, antihypertensives, antidiabetics, or immunosuppressants, and before surgery.
Sources
The studies cited below were identified via PubMed.
- Musazadeh V, Jahangir M, Mahmoudinezhad M, et al. Effect of Nigella sativa supplementation on cardiometabolic health in patients with metabolic diseases: a systematic review and meta-analysis evaluated according to GRADE. Endocrinology, Diabetes & Metabolism, 2026;9(2):e70207. DOI
- Sahebkar A, Beccuti G, Simental-Mendía LE, et al. Effects of black seed on plasma lipid concentrations in humans: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized placebo-controlled trials. Pharmacological Research, 2016;106:37-50. DOI
- Sahebkar A, Soranna D, Liu X, et al. Systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized trials on the effects of black seed supplementation on blood pressure. Journal of Hypertension, 2016;34(11):2127-2135. DOI
- Jafari A, Mardani H, Faghfouri AH, et al. Does Nigella sativa supplementation improve cardiovascular risk factors? A systematic review evaluated according to GRADE and dose-response meta-analysis of 82 randomized trials. Pharmacological Research, 2025;219:107882. DOI
- Hallajzadeh J, Milajerdi A, Mobini M, et al. Effects of Nigella sativa on glycemic control, lipid profile and markers of inflammation and oxidative stress: systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized trials. Phytotherapy Research, 2020;34(10):2586-2608. DOI
- Gyawali D, Vohra R, Orme-Johnson D, et al. Systematic review and meta-analysis of Ayurvedic herbal preparations in hypercholesterolemia. Medicina, 2021;57(6):546. DOI
- Karimi M, Pirzad S, Pourfaraji SMA, et al. Effects of nigella on cardiometabolic indices in type 2 diabetic patients: systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized trials. Complementary Therapies in Medicine, 2025;90:103174. DOI
- Daryabeygi-Khotbehsara R, Golzarand M, Ghaffari MP, Djafarian K. Nigella sativa improves glycemic balance and blood lipids in type 2 diabetes: systematic review and meta-analysis. Complementary Therapies in Medicine, 2017;35:6-13. DOI
- Mahdavi R, Namazi N, Alizadeh M, Farajnia S. Effects of Nigella sativa oil combined with a hypocaloric diet on cardiometabolic risk factors in obese women: randomized clinical trial. Food & Function, 2015;6(6):2041-2048. DOI
- Saadati S, Naseri K, Asbaghi O, et al. Nigella sativa supplementation improves cardiometabolic indicators in prediabetic and type 2 diabetic individuals: systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized trials. Frontiers in Nutrition, 2022;9:977756. DOI
- Tang G, Zhang L, Tao J, Wei Z. Effect of Nigella sativa in the treatment of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease: systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized trials. Phytotherapy Research, 2021;35(8):4183-4193. DOI
- Sabzghabaee AM, Dianatkhah M, Sarrafzadegan N, et al. Clinical evaluation of Nigella sativa seeds in the treatment of hyperlipidemia: randomized placebo-controlled trial. Medical Archives, 2012;66(3):198-200. DOI
- Ibrahim RM, Hamdan NS, Mahmud R, et al. Randomized trial on the lipid-lowering effects of nigella seed powder in postmenopausal women. Journal of Translational Medicine, 2014;12:82. DOI
- Qidwai W, Hamza HB, Qureshi R, Gilani A. Efficacy, safety and tolerability of nigella seed powder in capsules on lipids, blood glucose, blood pressure and weight in adults: double-blind randomized trial. Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine, 2009;15(6):639-644. DOI
- Al Dhaheri AS, Alkhatib DH, Feehan J, et al. Effect of therapeutic doses of culinary spices in metabolic syndrome: a randomized trial. Nutrients, 2024;16(11):1685. DOI
- Badar A, Kaatabi H, Bamosa A, et al. Effect of one year supplementation with Nigella sativa on lipids, blood pressure and heart rate of type 2 diabetic patients on oral antidiabetic drugs: a non-randomized clinical trial. Annals of Saudi Medicine, 2017;37(1):56-63. DOI
- Ahmad Alobaidi AH. Effect of Nigella sativa and Allium sativum combined with simvastatin in dyslipidemic patients: a prospective, randomized, double-blind trial. Anti-Inflammatory & Anti-Allergy Agents in Medicinal Chemistry, 2014;13(1):68-74. DOI
- Kavyani Z, Musazadeh V, Safaei E, et al. Antihypertensive effects of Nigella sativa supplementation: an updated systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized trials. Phytotherapy Research, 2023;37(8):3224-3238. DOI
- Dehkordi FR, Kamkhah AF. Antihypertensive effect of an extract of Nigella sativa seeds in patients with mild hypertension. Fundamental & Clinical Pharmacology, 2008;22(4):447-452. DOI
- Fallah Huseini H, Amini M, Mohtashami R, et al. Hypotensive effect of Nigella sativa seed oil in healthy volunteers: a randomized double-blind placebo-controlled trial. Phytotherapy Research, 2013;27(12):1849-1853. DOI
- Shoaei-Hagh P, Kamelan Kafi F, Najafi S, et al. A randomized double-blind placebo-controlled trial evaluating the interest of Nigella sativa seed oil for reducing cardiovascular risk in hypertensive patients. Phytotherapy Research, 2021;35(8):4388-4400. DOI
- Khattab MM, Nagi MN. Thymoquinone supplementation attenuates hypertension and renal injury in nitric oxide-deficient hypertensive rats. Phytotherapy Research, 2007;21(5):410-414. DOI
- Al-Naqeep G, Al-Zubairi AS, Ismail M, et al. Antiatherogenic potential of Nigella sativa seeds and oil in dietary-induced hypercholesterolemia in rabbits. Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine, 2011;2011:213628. DOI
- Ragheb A, Elbarbry F, Prasad K, et al. Attenuation of the development of hypercholesterolemic atherosclerosis by thymoquinone. International Journal of Angiology, 2008;17(4):186-192. DOI
- Huang L, Trieu K, Yoshimura S, et al. Effect of dose and duration of dietary sodium reduction on blood pressure: systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized trials. BMJ, 2020;368:m315. DOI
- Filippou CD, Tsioufis CP, Thomopoulos CG, et al. DASH diet and blood pressure reduction in adults with or without hypertension: systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized trials. Advances in Nutrition, 2020;11(5):1150-1160. DOI
- Edwards JJ, Deenmamode AHP, Griffiths M, et al. Physical training and resting blood pressure: classic and network meta-analysis of large-scale randomized trials. British Journal of Sports Medicine, 2023;57(20):1317-1326. DOI
- Neter JE, Stam BE, Kok FJ, et al. Influence of weight loss on blood pressure: meta-analysis of randomized trials. Hypertension, 2003;42(5):878-884. DOI
- Law MR, Wald NJ, Morris JK, Jordan RE. Benefit of low-dose combinations of antihypertensive drugs: analysis of 354 randomized trials. BMJ, 2003;326(7404):1427. DOI
- Law MR, Wald NJ, Rudnicka AR. Quantifying the effect of statins on LDL-cholesterol, ischemic heart disease and stroke: systematic review and meta-analysis. BMJ, 2003;326(7404):1423. DOI
- Baigent C, Blackwell L, Emberson J, et al. Efficacy and safety of more intensive LDL-cholesterol reduction: meta-analysis of data from 170,000 participants in 26 randomized trials. Lancet, 2010;376(9753):1670-1681. DOI
- Ettehad D, Emdin CA, Kiran A, et al. Blood pressure reduction for the prevention of cardiovascular disease and mortality: systematic review and meta-analysis. Lancet, 2016;387(10022):957-967. DOI
- Alam MA, Bin Jardan YA, Raish M, et al. Effect of Nigella sativa and fenugreek on the pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of amlodipine in hypertensive rats. Current Drug Metabolism, 2020;21(4):318-325. DOI
- Wang Z, Wang Z, Wang X, et al. Potential risk of interaction between thymoquinone and warfarin. Chemico-Biological Interactions, 2022;365:110070. DOI
- Arab A, Ramezaninejad S, Salehifar E. Extensive subcutaneous hematoma in a patient receiving Nigella sativa oil, dual antiplatelet therapy, and oxaliplatin-based chemotherapy: a case report. Hospital Pharmacy, 2026;online publication 00185787261482136. DOI
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