Evaluation of the Anti-Inflammatory and Wound-Healing Potentials of Nigella sativa Extract in Dermal Injury Models

Abstract Skin repair depends on balanced inflammation, oxidative control, and growth-factor signalling. Disruption of these events delays healing and leads to chronic wounds. Nigella sativa (black seed) contains bioactive compounds such as thymoquinone with anti-inflammatory and antioxidant activity, but its integrated effect on dermal repair remains unclear. This study evaluated the anti-inflammatory and wound-healing properties of N. sativa extract in a full-thickness excision wound model in rats. Animals were divided into control, standard (1% silver sulfadiazine), and N. sativa ointment–treated (10% w/w) groups. Wound contraction, histological organisation, antioxidant enzymes, inflammatory cytokines, and expression of pro-repair genes were assessed. Topical N. sativa significantly accelerated wound closure (97.5 ± 1.2 % vs. 84.7 ± 2.1 % in controls, p < 0.001) and improved epithelial regeneration and collagen deposition. Treatment enhanced superoxide dismutase and catalase activities by over 35%, reduced malondialdehyde by 38%, and lowered TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-6 levels by 33–46%. VEGF and PDGF gene expression increased 2.7- and 2.2-fold, respectively, compared with untreated wounds. These results demonstrate that N. sativa extract promotes healing through concurrent modulation of inflammation, oxidative balance, and angiogenic signalling. The findings support its potential as a natural, biocompatible therapeutic for managing dermal injuries and cosmetic skin repair. Further work should optimise formulation, dosage, and clinical application to translate these benefits to human wound management. Competing Interest Statement The authors have declared no competing interest.