A comprehensive review of ethnopharmacological uses, phytochemistry, biological activities, and future prospects of Nigella glandulifera

AbstractNigella glandulifera Freyn et Sint (N. glandulifera) is frequently added tonaan (a kind of crusty pancake and a favorite food of the Uyghur and Kazak people) as a spice. The water decoction ofN. glandulifera was used as traditional Uighur medicine to treat tinnitus, amnesia, amenorrhea, hypogalactia, heat stranguria, urethral calculus, alopecia and hair-blacking, edema, and bronchial asthma. This review aimed to give an updated, comprehensive summary on the traditional uses, pharmacology, phytochemistry and toxicology ofN. glandulifera to provide some reminders for future research. More than 78 chemical compounds were isolated fromN. glandulifera, including essential oils, alkaloids, saponins, phenolic compounds, flavonol glycosides, steroids, and others. The extractions and constituents ofN. glandulifera were preliminarily confirmed to exhibit menstrual cycle regulative, anti-oxidant, anti-inflammatory, viscera-protective, anti-neoplastic, anti-diabetic properties, and the therapeutic effects on respiratory diseases. Pharmacological investigations supported the traditional use ofN. glandulifera to treat endocrine, respiratory, urogenital, and nervous system diseases with little toxicity.N. glandulifera is an excellent tonic to treat many public health problems, including endocrine, respiratory, urogenital, neuronal system disorders and cancer.
Source: Medicinal Chemistry Research - Category: Chemistry Source Type: research