Abstract

The seeds of Nigella sativa (NS) (family: Ranunculaceae), (NS) are widely used as medicine throughout the world. It is very popular in various traditional systems of medicine like Unani and Tibb, Ayurveda and Siddha. Seeds and oils have a long history of folklore usage in various systems of medicines and food. The objective of this study was to investigate the knowledge of community pharmacists in Dubai, United Arab Emirates about the medicinal use of NS and the challenges facing the dispensing and/or the prescribing process. A qualitative research methodology was adopted in this study. The participants were licensed pharmacists recruited using Dubai health authority database. A sample of 36 pharmacists (19 male, 17 female) was interviewed using the semi-structured interviewing technique. Based on the content analysis of the interviews, four major themes have emerged. Future research might attempt to compare the knowledge and perceptions of different healthcare providers of the medicinal use of NS seeds. In conclusion, respondents are aware of the potential effect of NS products available at their pharmacies on several diseases.

Key words: Nigella sativa; black seeds; traditional medicine; community pharmacists; Dubai.