Nigella is an annual herb of the genus Nigella of the Ranuncualceac family. Generally, what we call Nigella includes 3 species of Nigella, namely Nigella Glandulifera Freyn, Also known as glandular hair black grass), Nigella Sativa (also known as fruit black grass) and black grass (Nigella Damascena) [1]. Blackgrass can grow to 1-2 feet (30-60 cm) tall, its leaves are bright green with lace, its flowers are white or blue, and its fruits are spherical capsules.
Blac seed grass is produced in India, Pakistan, Egypt, and Central Asian countries such as Central Asia. It is mainly blackgrass.
Nigrum sphaerocarpa growing in China is mainly distributed in Turpan and Hami, Xinjiang, and its seeds are commonly used in Xinjiang Uygur. Uyghur language is called Si Yadan, Si Ya means black, Dan means seed, which has the effects of diuresis, activating blood and detoxifying, nourishing kidney and brain, and passing milk through menstruation [2].
The black grasses mentioned in this article are mainly black grasses.
The black grasses mentioned in this article are mainly black grasses.
Nigella sativa is a potential natural flavor, commonly known as black cumin and black seeds, and has high medicinal value. It is found in Arab, Unani and Ayurvedic medicinal systems Long history of use.
Taking the Middle East as an example, black grass is very popular locally. The history of black grass can be traced back to Muhammad’s time. The Islamic prophet once said that black grass can cure most diseases except death.
1.Black grass seed, super seed
Black grass seeds have been used in culinary and medical applications for over 3,000 years, and they are mentioned in many religions and ancient cultures.
In ancient Egypt, the oil extracted from the seeds of black grass was used as a precious medicine. Black grass seeds contain essential oils, mainly linoleic acid, oleic acid, and palmitic acid, as well as vitamins, amino acids, and trace elements. They have high nutritional and edible values.
In addition, black grass seeds also contain compounds such as thyrone and thymol, which have high medicinal value.
Black grass not only has a long application history, but also has strong data support in terms of health effects.
At present, there have been 1,474 studies on Blackgrass on Pubmed. Recent research shows that thyraquinone, a functional active ingredient contained in blackgrass seed oil, has antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects, can protect the liver and prevent cancer.
At the same time, animal studies carried out by Boskabady MH and others also confirmed that the extract of Nigella sphaeroides seed has a significant improvement effect on lipopolysaccharide-induced pneumonia and oxidative stress [3]. In addition, based on the anti-oxidant and inflammatory properties of black grass seeds, there will be more application potentials waiting to be developed in the future.
2. Black grass seeds help relieve stress & sleep
As the pace of life and work style continue to accelerate, people face various pressures in their daily lives, which will lead to continuous fatigue, which will affect people’s health and overall well-being.
According to experts, about 10% of the world’s population may experience fatigue or persistent fatigue at some time. According to the National Institutes of Health (NIH), one in five Americans is experiencing severe fatigue that interferes with the quality of their daily lives (QoL).
Insufficient sleep is one of the main causes of fatigue. Both insufficient sleep and chronic fatigue can cause depression.
Ibn Sina (980-1037) mentioned in his medical book “The Canon of Medicine” that black grass seeds can stimulate the energy of the body and help people recover from fatigue and depression [4] This energy boosts overall health including physical and mental.
Thyroquinone contained in black seed oil can prevent depression. Black seed oil can also increase the level of serotonin (a neurotransmitter, a natural mood stabilizer) in the brain. Reduce anxiety and thereby increase mental energy and emotional levels.
In relieving sleep, black grass seeds also have great application potential. Long-term research has found that regular intake of black grass seed oil can help eliminate sleep disorders, provide better sleep and complete the sleep cycle.
The potential mechanism for the effect of black seed oil on sleep may be due to its ability to enhance the ability of acetylcholine in the brain during the sleep cycle, as research results indicate that acetylcholine levels increase during sleep [5].
3. BlaQmaxTM, a black grass seed extract, focusing on the pressure relief and sleep markets
Indian functional flavor supplier Akay NaturalIngredients has launched a patented NigellaSativa sleep aid ingredient. This thyme quinone-rich black seed oil has applied for a US patent and will be sold under the trademark BlaQmaxTM.
At present, the product is mainly in liquid and powder forms, and is also approved in the United States for the treatment of anxiety, stress and sleep disorders, without negatively affecting memory.
In addition, the product uses a patented supercritical distillation technology to extract the unique constituents of black seed oil responsible for producing sleep-inducing effects.
Regarding the mechanism of action of the product, a company official said that BlaQmaxTM helps improve sleep and relieve anxiety by acting on the hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis, which is very important for the sleep cycle and circadian rhythm. At the same time, the material can also regulate cortisol-related hormones, which will produce a series of reactions, eventually reducing cortisol levels and making people sleep better.
A pilot study in India found improvements in both total sleep time and deep sleep time in subjects taking BlaQmaxTM. A total of 15 subjects were recruited for this study. They would take a softgel capsule containing 200 mg of this ingredient after dinner every day for a total of 28 days. Use polysomnography to analyze and observe sleep patterns.
The results showed that total sleep time, sleep latency, and sleep efficiency were improved. Non-REM sleep increased by 82.49%, and REM sleep increased by 29.38%. The findings have been submitted to a journal for publication and are currently under review.
It is reported that the product will be available in the US market in the next few months. Three US retailers have expressed interest in adding BlaQmaxTM to the terminal health food formula. One of these retailers will launch its own brand by May 2020 The product.
The United States is the first market for Akay Natural Ingredients to launch this ingredient. The United States is the pioneer and largest market for sleep aids. As a result, the company sees the United States as a springboard for further development and expands to other markets in Europe and Asia.
In addition, the product can also be applied to other health areas, such as regulating hypertension. Akay NaturalIngredients will conduct more scientific research on this ingredient in different health directions in the future, because it is also considered to have certain health benefits for hypertension, cholesterol management, and weight management, so it is available as a daily supplement for consumers It is necessary to eat.
4. 100 billion sleep market, who is paying for it?
According to traditional perceptions, the mainstream consumer of insomnia should be the middle-aged and elderly, but this is not the case.
The “2018 China Sleep Index” shows that at least 60% of the nation ’s 174 million post-90s have sleep problems, and insomnia is gradually becoming younger. Post-90s between the ages of 20 and 29 have become the main group of sleeplessness Being awake, not sleeping well, or falling asleep has become the norm in this group’s daily life.
According to the “Development Status and Market Prospects Analysis of China’s Sleep Medical Industry” released by Bosi Data, the size of the sleep industry market in China in 2017 was about 279.7 billion yuan. The proportions are 16%, 15%, and 4% in turn [6]. Under this, sleep aid health foods and functional foods ushered in the development peak.
Taking the domestic market as an example, sleep-enhancing functional products have ushered in the nascent stage of development. Many companies are involved in this field, including Wangwang, Mengniu, Wahaha, and Junlebao.
product links:https://www.trbextract.com/black-seed-extract.html
Post time: Mar-28-2020