Nigella sativa, a promising source of respiratory medicines

Resumo

The use of Nigella sativa and its preparations in the treatment of various diseases is ancient. A number of lung diseases such as asthma, bronchiectasis, bronchitis, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease are one of the major causes of morbidity and mortality in human. In most cases, these account for high prevalence of death and disability-adjusted life years lost. Several environmental, individual, and pathological conditions play important roles in gaining respiratory disorders.  In many studies, N. sativa and its components such as carvacrol, nigellone, thymoquinone have been found act against respiratory diseases. The molecular mechanisms and the pre-clinical or clinical reports suggest that N. sativa may be one of the most promising sources of respiratory medicines.