Black Cumin and Reduced Interleukin-6 Levels

Research synthesisModerate evidenceModerate effect3 studies · 3 beneficial · 0 neutral · 0 harmful

All 3 studies found moderate beneficial effects of black cumin (Nigella sativa) supplementation on reducing interleukin-6 levels, with statistically significant results in each. Doses ranged from 200 to 4600 mg/day, but the most commonly studied dose was 2000 mg/day. Effects were observed in general and clinical populations, with study durations ranging from 1 to 8 weeks.

Caveats: Evidence base is small (only 3 studies) — conclusions should be considered preliminary. Available evidence is overwhelmingly positive — clinical literature in this area is subject to publication bias (null-result studies are less likely to be published or indexed).

Generated Jun 4, 2026

Doses used in studies

mg/day: 200–4,600 (median 2,200, IQR 650–3,950) — 2 studies

Time to effect

Median: 4.5 weeks · IQR 2.8 weeks–6.3 weeks · Range 7 days–8 weeks — Reported in 2 of 3 studies

3 of 3 papersPopulation:

Does Nigella sativa supplementation improve cardiovascular disease risk factors? A comprehensive GRADE-assessed systematic review and dose-response meta-analysis of 82 randomized controlled trials.
- 2025-09
- Meta-Analysis · n = 5,026
- Pharmacological research 219
- - Ali Jafari
  - Helia Mardani
  - Amir Hossein Faghfouri
  - Zahra Mirzaei Fashtali
  - Mohtaram Hashemi
  - Matin Abdollahi Yousefabady
  - Reihane Javid
  - Sahar Golabi
  - Bahareh Arghavan
  - Vali Musazadeh
  - Mahshid Naghashpour
- PubMed: 40714301
- DOI: 10.1016/j.phrs.2025.107882
35 Insights on
- Reduced Interleukin-6 Levels
- High evidence
N. sativa supplementation significantly improved ... interleukin-6 (IL-6)
Effect
Beneficial
Effect size
Moderate
Significant
Yes
Dose
200 to 4600 mg/day
Effect of Nigella sativa Intake on Oxidative Stress and Inflammation in Patients with Metabolic Syndrome and Related Disorders: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials.
- 2024-05
- Meta-Analysis · n = 1,033
- Current pharmaceutical biotechnology 25(7)
- - Hossein Hosseini
  - Farideh Ghavidel
  - Mahdieh Aliyari
  - Seyed Isaac Hashemy
  - Tannaz Jamialahmadi
  - Amirhossein Sahebkar
- PubMed: 37859312
- DOI: 10.2174/0113892010266109230928000134
6 Insights on
- Reduced Interleukin-6 Levels
- High evidence
- Clinical
intake of Nigella sativa significantly decreased IL-6 (SMD: -0.54 ; (95% CI: from -1.01 to -0.07); P = 0.02)
Effect
Beneficial
Effect size
Moderate
Significant
Yes
A crossover randomized controlled trial examining the effects of black seed (Nigella sativa) supplementation on IL-1β, IL-6 and leptin, and insulin parameters in overweight and obese women.
- 2024-01-05
- RCT
- BMC complementary medicine and therapies 24(1)
- - Elham Razmpoosh
  - Sara Safi
  - Mahta Mazaheri
  - Saman Khalesi
  - Majid Nazari
  - Parvin Mirmiran
  - Azadeh Nadjarzadeh
- PubMed: 38178093
- DOI: 10.1186/s12906-023-04226-y
6 Insights on
- Reduced Interleukin-6 Levels
- High evidence
- Clinical
Significant reductions with large effect sizes were observed in the gene expression and serum levels of IL-6(d=-1.8, d=-0.78, respectively; P < 0.01)
Effect
Beneficial
Effect size
Moderate
Significant
Yes
Dose
2000 mg/day

Black Cumin and Reduced Interleukin-6 Levels

Does Nigella sativa supplementation improve cardiovascular disease risk factors? A comprehensive GRADE-assessed systematic review and dose-response meta-analysis of 82 randomized controlled trials.

Effect of Nigella sativa Intake on Oxidative Stress and Inflammation in Patients with Metabolic Syndrome and Related Disorders: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials.

A crossover randomized controlled trial examining the effects of black seed (Nigella sativa) supplementation on IL-1β, IL-6 and leptin, and insulin parameters in overweight and obese women.