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Mitigation of Obesity-Promoted Diseases by Nigella sativa and Thymoquinone

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Abstract

Obesity is closely associated with increased incidence of cardiovascular diseases, cancer, insulin resistance, and immune dysfunction, and thus obesity-mitigation strategies should take into account these secondary pathologies in addition to promoting weight loss. Recent studies indicate that black cumin (Nigella sativa) has cardio-protective, anti-cancer, anti-diabetic, antioxidant, and immune-modulatory properties. While black cumin and/or its major bioactive constituent, thymoquinone have demonstrated bioactivity in a variety of disease models, the mechanisms of action are largely unknown. Given the growing interest in and the use of functional foods and nutraceuticals, as well as the increase in obesity and chronic diseases worldwide, further research into the therapeutic/preventive effects of black cumin may be beneficial.

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Acknowledgements

We would like to thank Dr. Robert L. Zimdahl, and Gaurav Madiwale, Twila Henley, Aaron Massey and Sridhar Radhakrishnan for their constructive reviews of this article.

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  1. Adam L. Heuberger

    Present address: Proteomics and Metabolomics Facility, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, 80523, USA

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Food Science and Human Nutrition, Colorado State University, 1571 Campus Mail, 206 Gifford Building, Fort Collins, CO, 80523, USA

    Jairam Vanamala, Andrew C. Kester, Adam L. Heuberger & Lavanya Reddivari

  2. Cancer Prevention and Control Program, University of Colorado Cancer Center, Aurora, CO, 80045, USA

    Jairam Vanamala

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  1. Jairam Vanamala
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Vanamala, J., Kester, A.C., Heuberger, A.L. et al. Mitigation of Obesity-Promoted Diseases by Nigella sativa and Thymoquinone. Plant Foods Hum Nutr 67, 111–119 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11130-012-0279-z

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