Black seed oil
Black seed oil is pressed from the seeds of Nigella sativa, a flowering plant grown mainly in the Middle East, North Africa and South Asia. Most supplement grades are cold pressed and filtered rather than refined, so they keep a strong aroma and the volatile compound thymoquinone. Brands buy it as bulk oil for bottles and softgels, sometimes standardized to a thymoquinone level.
Suppliers sell different products under the same name. Specify the one you need.
Mechanically pressed, filtered oil, the most common grade.
Oil sold with a minimum thymoquinone percentage, usually by HPLC.
Oil from certified organic seed, often of Egyptian, Turkish or Indian origin.
Oil filtered and supplied for encapsulation.
Compare each result with your own specification when the lot arrives.
Store sealed, protected from light and heat, ideally in a cool area. Unrefined oil can form sediment, which is normal but should match the supplier description. Shelf life follows the supplier specification, with retests of peroxide value and thymoquinone for aged lots.
Thymoquinone content varies widely between seed origins and lots, so record the actual value if you state it on the label. Record seed origin for each lot.
Facts from regulators and standards bodies, each linked to its source.
Health Canada's Nigella oil monograph lists the seed of Nigella sativa as the source, with black cumin oil and black cumin seed oil as common names.
Source: webprod.hc-sc.gc.ca (opens in a new tab)21 CFR 182.10 lists black caraway (black cumin), Nigella sativa, among spices generally recognized as safe; this covers the seed as a spice, not the oil specifically.
Source: ecfr.gov (opens in a new tab)This is general information, not regulatory advice. Status differs by country and by how the ingredient is used, so check the rules for your product and market.
Manufacturers and distributors whose own websites say they sell it.
Manufacturer · Deerfield, IL
US oleochemical producer whose personal care unit (which absorbed Jeen International) sources, blends and refines natural oils and butters in cosmetic, food and pharma grades, and makes glycerin.
Suppliers are in alphabetical order and none pays to appear. Each claim is checked against the supplier’s own website on the date shown. Ask for the specification sheet and a recent COA before you order, and confirm details with the supplier.
Common forms include cold-pressed oil, thymoquinone-standardized, organic and softgel grade. Ask each supplier for the specification sheet of the exact grade they quote.
Expect thymoquinone, fatty acid profile, free fatty acids and peroxide value, pesticide residues and heavy metals, each with its method, specification and result for that lot.
Store sealed, protected from light and heat, ideally in a cool area. Unrefined oil can form sediment, which is normal but should match the supplier description. Shelf life follows the supplier specification, with retests of peroxide value and thymoquinone for aged lots.
Health Canada's Nigella oil monograph lists the seed of Nigella sativa as the source, with black cumin oil and black cumin seed oil as common names. 21 CFR 182.10 lists black caraway (black cumin), Nigella sativa, among spices generally recognized as safe; this covers the seed as a spice, not the oil specifically.
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