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

Nigella glandulifera Freyn et Sint (N. glandulifera) is frequently added to naan (a kind of crusty pancake and a favorite food of the Uyghur and Kazak people) as a spice. The water decoction of N. 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 of N. glandulifera to provide some reminders for future research. More than 78 chemical compounds were isolated from N. glandulifera, including essential oils, alkaloids, saponins, phenolic compounds, flavonol glycosides, steroids, and others. The extractions and constituents of N. 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 of N. 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.