Main description:

Recent developments in the field of nutrition have led to increased interest in herbs and medicinal plants as phytochemical-rich sources for functional food, nutraceuticals, and drugs. As research sheds light on the therapeutic potential of various bioactive phytochemicals, the demand for plant extracts and oils has increased.

Black cumin or black seeds (Nigella sativa) have particularly widespread nutritional and medicinal applications. In traditional medicine, black seeds are used to manage fatigue and chronic headache. Black seed oil is used as an antiseptic and analgesic remedy and for treatment of joint's pain and stiffness and can be mixed with sesame oil to treat dermatosis, abdominal disorders, cough, headache, fever, liver ailments, jaundice, sore eyes, and hemorrhoids. Thymoquinone, the main constituent in black seed volatile oil, has been shown to suppress carcinogenesis.

Black cumin (Nigella sativa) seeds: Chemistry, Technology, Functionality, and Applications presents in detail the chemical composition, therapeutic properties, and functionality of high-value oils, phytochemicals, nutrients, and volatiles of the Nigella sativa seed. Organized by formulation (seeds, fixed oil, essential oil, and extracts), chapters break this seed down into its chemical constituents and explore their role in the development of pharmaceuticals, nutraceuticals, novel food, natural drugs, and feed. Following numerous reports on the health-promoting activities of Nigella sativa, this is the first comprehensive presentation of the functional, nutritional, and pharmacological traits of Nigella sativa seeds and seed oil constituents.

Contents:

1 Introduction to black cumin (Nigella sative): Chemistry, Technology, Functionality and Applications

Section 1. Nigella sative seeds: Cultivation, Composition and Applications

2 Effect of cultivation, fertilization and irrigation practices on Nigella sative yield and quality

3 Morphological characters of Nigella sativa

4 Micro and macroscopic characterization of traded Nigella sativa seeds using applied systematics techniques

5 Composition of Nigella sativa seeds

6 Nigella sativa seed peptides (Thionins)

7 Black cumin polysaccharides

8 Thymoquinone: Chemistry and cunctionality

9 Novel Prospective of Nigella sativa Essential Oil Analysis, Culinary and Medicinal Uses

10 Rediscovering Nigella Seeds Bioactives Chemical Composition using Metabolomics Technologies

11 Health promoting activities of Nigella sativa seeds

12 Nigella sativa seed extract in green synthesis and nanocomposite

13 Food applications of Nigella sative seeds

14 Nutraceutical importance and applications of Nigella sativa seed flour

15 Nigella sativa seed cake: nutraceutical significance and applications in the food and cosmetic industry

16 Nigella sative seeds in cosmetic products

17 Nigella sativa supplementation in ruminant diets: production, health, and environmental perspectives

18 Nigella sativa seeds and its derivatives in poultry feed

19 Nigella sative Seeds and Its Derivatives in Fish Feed

Section 2: Nigella sative fixed oil: Chemistry, Technology, Functionality and Applications

20 Composition and Functionality of Nigella sativa Fixed Oil

21 Effect of processing on the composition and quality of Nigella sativa fixed oil

22 Food applications of Nigella sativa Fixed Oil

23 Health-Promoting Activities of Nigella sativa Fixed Oil

24 Micro- and Nano-encapsulation of Nigella sativa Oil

25 Biodiesel Production Potential of Nigella sativa Oil

Section 3: Nigella sative essential oil: Chemistry, Technology, Functionality and Applications

26 Composition and functionality of Nigella sativa essential oil

27 Effect of processing on the composition and quality of Nigella sativa essential oil

28 Food applications of Nigella sativa essential oil

29 Health-promoting activities of Nigella sativa essential oil

Section 4: Nigella sative seed extracts: Chemistry, Technology, Functionality and Applications

30 Composition and Functionality of Nigella sativa Seed Extracts

31 Nigella sativa seed extracts in functional foods and nutraceutical applications

32 Health promoting activities of Nigella sativa seed extracts