Nigella Sativa Seed Oil is an oil extracted from the seeds of Nigella sativa, commonly known as black cumin, belonging to the Ranunculaceae family. This oil is valued for its beneficial properties, making it popular in various applications, particularly in the fields of cosmetics, personal care, and traditional medicine.

Chemical Composition and Structure

The chemical composition of Nigella Sativa Seed Oil includes a variety of bioactive compounds such as thymoquinone, alkaloids, flavonoids, essential fatty acids, and vitamins. These compounds vary in structure: thymoquinone is a bioactive quinone, alkaloids are nitrogen-containing organic compounds, flavonoids have complex phenolic structures, essential fatty acids are lipid compounds, and vitamins provide nutritional benefits.

Physical Properties

Nigella Sativa Seed Oil typically appears as a dark amber to black liquid with a characteristic spicy and earthy aroma. It has an oily texture and is insoluble in water but soluble in oils and organic solvents.

Production Process

The production of Nigella Sativa Seed Oil involves several steps:

• Harvesting and Selection: The seeds of the Nigella sativa plant are harvested and selected for quality.
• Cleaning: The harvested seeds are thoroughly cleaned to remove dirt and contaminants.
• Cold Pressing: The cleaned seeds are cold-pressed to extract the oil, preserving its bioactive compounds.
• Filtration: The extracted oil is filtered to remove any remaining solid residues and impurities.
• Packaging: The final product is packaged under controlled conditions to ensure stability and purity.

Applications

• Medicine: Nigella Sativa Seed Oil is known for its anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, and antioxidant properties. It is used in traditional medicine to treat various conditions such as infections, inflammations, and digestive issues.
• Cosmetics: In the cosmetics industry, Nigella Sativa Seed Oil is valued for its moisturizing, soothing, and anti-aging properties. It is commonly included in formulations of creams, lotions, serums, and hair care products.
• Personal Care: Nigella Sativa Seed Oil is used in various personal care products such as shampoos, conditioners, and skincare products for its nourishing and regenerating properties.

Environmental and Safety Considerations

Environmental Impact: The production of Nigella Sativa Seed Oil generally has a low environmental impact, especially when sustainable harvesting practices are employed. The use of cold-pressing techniques minimizes the release of harmful chemicals into the environment.

Safety: Nigella Sativa Seed Oil is considered safe for topical use in the concentrations typically employed in consumer products. However, it is essential to ensure that the oil is free from contaminants and pathogens. Allergic reactions are rare but cannot be excluded.

What it is used for and where

Cosmetics - INCI Functions

• Skin conditioning agent - Emollient. Emollients have the characteristic of enhancing the skin barrier through a source of exogenous lipids that adhere to the skin, improving barrier properties by filling gaps in intercorneocyte clusters to improve hydration while protecting against inflammation. In practice, they have the ability to create a barrier that prevents transepidermal water loss.  Emollients are described as degreasing or refreshing additives that improve the lipid content of the upper layers of the skin by preventing degreasing and drying of the skin. The problem with emollients is that many have a strong lipophilic character and are identified as occlusive ingredients; they are oily and fatty materials that remain on the skin surface and reduce transepidermal water loss. In cosmetics, emollients and moisturisers are often considered synonymous with humectants and occlusives.
• Skin conditioning agent. It is the mainstay of topical skin treatment as it has the function of restoring, increasing or improving skin tolerance to external factors, including melanocyte tolerance. The most important function of the conditioning agent is to prevent skin dehydration, but the subject is rather complex and involves emollients and humectants that can be added in the formulation.
• Perfuming. Unlike fragrance, which can also contain slightly less pleasant or characteristic odours, the term perfume indicates only very pleasant fragrances. Used for perfumes and aromatic raw materials.

CAS   90064-32-7

EC Number   290-094-1