‘krishna Jeerakam’ (black Cumin) in Anticancerous Treatment

'Krishna Jeerakam' is a small black seed which is used in the preparation of certain Ayurvedic medicines. The terms 'Karavi', 'Prithvi' and 'Kala' are used frequently as its synonyms. Each word conveys a specific meaning which indicates one or other property of the drug. 'Karavi' means savior from the fear of death and 'prithvi' conveys the meaning 'famous' and kala emphasizes the black colour of the seed. 'Bhava Misra' and 'Madanapala' describe its properties as Ruksha (rough), Kadu (pungent), Ushna (Hot), Samgrahi (constipating), Pithala (vitiates the humours 'pitha'), 'Medhya' (improves memory), Garbasaya visuddikrit (corrects uterine abnormalities), Jevaraghna (antipyretic), pachana (digestive), vrishya (Aphrodisiac), Balya (increases natural resistance), Ruchya (increases taste and appetite), 'Kaphapaha' (reduces the activity of the humour kapha), Chakshushya (good for the eye), pavanahrit (reduces the unwanted activity of the humour 'vata'), Gulmahrit (reduces tumours), chardhihrit (anti emetic) and Athisarahrit (anti diarrhoeal). This drug has been described as 'Carum carvi Linn' by some and as 'Carum bulbocastanum by others. The actual stuff available in the local market of Tamil Nadu and Kerala is found to be 'Nigella Sativa' and is not having any aroma. A 'Kwatha' (decoction) preparation containing 'Chopchini' (Smilax china) and 'Gopangana' (Hemidesmus Indicus) and 'Krishna Jeeraka' (Nigella Sativa) in the proportion of 3:1:2 was found to be useful in the treatment of chronic and malignant ulcers and certain varieties of lymph glandular swellings. This prompted some interested researchers to conduct further research on the ingredients of this medicine. Preliminary experiments with this preparation revealed that the oral feeding will prevent the development of Ascites in Swiss Albino mice transplanted with Dalton's lymphoma ascites (DLA) cells. This was followed by the investigation of the individual components of the compound drug. As a result of this study a cytotoxic principle was found in 'Krishna Jeerakam'. The result of animal experiment was also reported to be encouraging. A wild variety of cumin usually called as 'Aranya Jeerakam' is said to possess hypoglycaemic activity. Roots and flowers of 'Ixora coccinia (Linn)' is also suggested by some as possessing some anticancerous activity. Researchers should come forward to verify these claims.