Black seed oil, also known as nigella or black cumin, is an herbal ingredient that may offer numerous science-backed health and beauty benefits, including supporting weight loss, improving skin and hair, healing wounds, fighting cancer and diabetes, and much more. It contains a potent compound called thymoquinone, which is said to be responsible for many of its effects.

Nigella sativa (Ranunculaceae) seeds and oil have been used for centuries as an anti-inflammatory, anti-microbial, anti-diabetic, antioxidant, and organ-protective remedy. It is also a common component in the traditional practice of Tibb-e-Nabwi, or Prophetic Medicine. It is also used in various systems of complementary medicine such as Unani and Ayurveda.

This article aims to provide an overview regarding the reported effect of nigella and its bioactive compounds on the epithelial to mesenchymal transition (EMT) of type 2. A comprehensive search in EBSCOHOST, OVID and SCOPUS database was conducted for relevant articles published between 1823 and August 2019.

EMT occurs when epithelial cells are induced to undergo mesenchymal transformation by a variety of mechanisms such as inflammation, hypoxia or injury. EMT is a key event in wound healing and tissue fibrosis. Nigella sativa and its components have been shown to be effective in preventing or attenuating EMT in a number of animal models. In addition, human clinical trials suggest that thymoquinone can be a therapeutic agent in fibrosis-related diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis (RA), where it was found to improve symptoms and reduce the frequency of flare-ups in patients taking conventional medicines. nigella oil