Nigella sativa or Black cumin is herbaceous plant of height 45 cm, native to eastern Mediterranean. In India it is cultivated in Punjab, Bengal, Assam and Bihar. Cumin black or Kala zira are seeds of this plant. These are added in pickles and also used as medicinal spice. The seeds contain essential oil which is obtained by cold pressing of seeds. The essential oil is used for treating cough and bronchial asthma.
Vernacular names
Sanskrit: Sthulajiraka, Upkunchikaa, Krishna jiraka
Bengali: Mota Kalajira, Kalajira
English: Small Fennel, Nigella Seed, Black cumin, Black seeds
Gujrati: Kalonji jeeru, Kalounji
Hindi: Kalaunji, Mangaraila
Kannada: Karijirige
Kashmiri: Kath
Malayalam: Karinjirakam
Marathi: Kalaunji jire, Kalejire
Punjabi: Kalvanji
Tamil: Karunjeerakam, Karunjiragam
Telugu: Peddajila karra
Urdu: Kalongi
Constituents of seeds
Essential oil, fixed oil, resin, saponin and tannin
Properties and Action
Rasa : Katu, Tikta
Guna : Laghu, Ruksha
Virya : Ushna
Vipaka : Katu
Karma : Dipana, Hridya, Krimighna, Medhya, Pittala,
Rucya, Sangrahi, Vatakaphapaha, Garbhashayavishodhana
Kalongi or Black cumin can be taken internally in form of powder and essential oil to prevent and treat various type of diseases. In Ayurveda, it is used in preparation of medicines such as Narayana churna and kankayana gutika. The seed powder or churna of seeds of Black cumin can be taken in dosage of 1-3 grams safely.