Nigella sativa Improves Blood Pressure in Postmenopausal Women

Written by Chrystal Moulton, Science Writer. Following eight weeks of supplementation, researchers observed a significant decrease in systolic (P = 0.002) and diastolic (P = 0.008) blood pressure, as well as pulse pressure (P = 0.048) compared to baseline values.

Nigella sativa, also known as black cumin, has demonstrated antioxidant, hepatoprotective, lipid lowering, anti-inflammatory and antihypertensive effects1,2. Because of its wide spectrum of physiological effects, Nigella sativa or black cumin would serve as an effective treatment for complex conditions like hypertension3. Hypertension, which is also known as the silent killer, is associated with severe cardiovascular disease including stroke, heart failure, chronic kidney disease and myocardial infarction4. Studies have shown that Nigella sativa acts by inhibiting angiotensin converting enzyme and has been shown to reduce blood pressure when paired with conventional drugs5. Other studies have demonstrated the anti-inflammatory effects of Nigella sativa4,6. In the current study, researchers evaluated the effect of Nigella sativa supplementation on blood pressure in postmenopausal women with hypertension3.

This trial was designed as a pilot study on postmenopausal women with confirmed diagnosis of uncomplicated essential hypertension. The women had to have been postmenopausal for at least two years with no history of kidney disease, vascular disease, or stroke. Participants were selected from a database and defined as having high normal BP [130-139/ 85-89 mmHg] or Grade 1 hypertension [140-159/ 90-99 mmHg]. Selected individuals were divided into three groups:

  • Group 1- 400 MG of Nigella sativa supplementation
  • Group 2- 400 MG Nigella supplementation twice daily [800mg]
  • Control group-monthly follow up visits with no supplementation

All participants received standard antihypertensive therapy and maintained their usual lifestyle habits and medication schedule. No additional interventions including dietary or lifestyle interventions were introduced. Anthropometric assessment, BP measurements, and heart rate were assessed at baseline, 4 weeks, and 8 weeks. In all three groups, five patients per group was selected for 24-hour ambulatory BP monitoring and echocardiography at baseline and at 8 weeks. Fasting blood samples were also collected at baseline and at 8 weeks along with a standardized questionnaire to evaluate Anxiety, depression, somatic, and vasomotor symptoms [measured using the Greene Climateric Scale]. The primary outcome researchers sought in this trial was reduction in blood pressure.

Sixty women with hypertension who met inclusion criteria were included in this trial and 52 completed the study [control = 20, Group 1 = 16, Group 2 = 16]. Baseline characteristics were non-significant across all groups. After four weeks, heart rate was significantly lower among patients supplemented with Nigella sativa (Group 1 and group 2, P = 0.04) compared to baseline. Following eight weeks of supplementation, researchers observed a significant decrease in systolic (P = 0.002) and diastolic (P = 0.008) blood pressure, as well as pulse pressure (P = 0.048) compared to baseline values. Researchers also observed a significant reduction in the augmentation index compared to baseline (P = 0.015). Further analysis also demonstrated that supplementation with 400mg Nigella sativa was significantly associated with a reduction in diastolic blood pressure compared to the control group (P = 0.00016). A significant difference in pulse pressure was also observed In Group 1 compared to placebo (P = 0.03) and Group 1 compared to Group 2 (P = 0.0007). In both instances, pulse pressure was lower in Group 1 compared to control group 2 (P <0.05). Lipid parameters were significantly different at week 8, particularly in Group 2 compared to the control group for both total cholesterol (P = 0.044) and LDL-C levels (P = 0.006). Researchers also observed significant improvement in climacteric symptoms (anxiety, somatic and vasomotor symptoms, as well as depression) among patients in both treatment groups (P <0.05). Logistical regression analysis demonstrated that being younger than 55, having a shorter duration since menopause, and having a heart rate greater than 70 BPM were strong predictors of response to treatment with Nigella sativa (P <0.001).

Overall, researchers observed statistically significant reduction in both systolic and diastolic blood pressure in patients treated with Nigella sativa compared to the control group. Additional studies will be needed to verify these findings.

Source: Pala, Barbara, Giulia Nardoianni, Paola Gualtieri, Giulia Frank, Marco Alfonso Perrone, Laura Di Renzo, and Giuliano Tocci. “Cardiometabolic Effects of Nigella sativa in Postmenopausal Women with Hypertension: A Prospective, Observational, Pilot Study.” Nutrients 17, no. 6 (2025): 985.

© 2025 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland. This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and
conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) license (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).

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Posted August 12, 2025.

Chrystal is a 2008 graduate of the University of Illinois at Chicago. She graduated with a bachelor’s in psychology with a focus on premedical studies and is a licensed project manager. She currently resides in Chicago.

References:

  1. Rizka A, Setiati S, Lydia A, Dewiasty E. Effect of Nigella sativa Seed Extract for Hypertension in Elderly: a Double-blind, Randomized Controlled Trial. Acta Med Indones. Oct 2017;49(4):307-313.
  2. Derosa G, D’Angelo A, Maffioli P, Cucinella L, Nappi RE. The Use of Nigella sativa in Cardiometabolic Diseases. Biomedicines. Feb 9 2024;12(2)doi:10.3390/biomedicines12020405
  3. Pala B, Nardoianni G, Gualtieri P, et al. Cardiometabolic Effects of Nigella sativa in Postmenopausal Women with Hypertension: A Prospective, Observational, Pilot Study. Nutrients. Mar 11 2025;17(6)doi:10.3390/nu17060985
  4. Maideen NMP, Balasubramanian R, Ramanathan S. Nigella Sativa (Black Seeds), A Potential Herb for the Pharmacotherapeutic Management of Hypertension – A Review. Curr Cardiol Rev. 2021;17(4):e230421187786. doi:10.2174/1573403×16666201110125906
  5. Ahad A, Raish M, Bin Jardan YA, Alam MA, Al-Mohizea AM, Al-Jenoobi FI. Potential pharmacodynamic and pharmacokinetic interactions of Nigella Sativa and Trigonella Foenum-graecum with losartan in L-NAME induced hypertensive rats. Saudi J Biol Sci. Oct 2020;27(10):2544-2550. doi:10.1016/j.sjbs.2020.05.009
  6. Nyulas KI, Simon-Szabó Z, Pál S, et al. Cardiovascular Effects of Herbal Products and Their Interaction with Antihypertensive Drugs-Comprehensive Review. Int J Mol Sci. Jun 9 2024;25(12)doi:10.3390/ijms25126388

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