A new in vitro study involving TriNutra’s ThymoQuin, a cold-pressed black seed oil standardized to 3% thymoquinone content, found that the phytochemical was superior to other black seed oil compositions in an assessment of skin antimicrobial activity.
 
The new study, with pending publication in the Journal of Food Science and Nutrition Research, compared four different compositions of black seed oil based on the percentage of thymoquinone (TQ), and low- or high-free fatty acid(FFA) content, to determine which would exhibit the strongest antimicrobial effect. The formulations were: 3% TQ, 2% FFA; 3% TQ, 10% FFA; 0.5% TQ, 2% FFA; and 0.5% TQ, 10% FFA.
 
While the low TQ, high FFA oil did not inhibit fungal growth, the low TQ low FFA formulation did provide moderate support. However, the oils containing 3% thymoquinone showed the most potent inhibition of M. furfur and C. albicans fungi, with the low FFA oil delivering the strongest results.
 
The oils were also tested on the bacteria S. aureus, and all of the black seed oils involved effectively inhibited its growth, which led the researchers to posit that an additional component of the oil, or some combination of them not yet identified, could be responsible for the anti-bacterial effect exhibited.
 
The study concluded that cold-pressed black seed oil standardized to 3% thymoquinone with a low free fatty acid content is a safe alternative to strongly regulate the growth of microbes which influence skin health, and could potentially assist in skin microbiome homeostasis.
 
“Detailed research into black seed oil compositions for skin health is still new and we are proud to be able to spearhead efforts to better understand how thymoquinone benefits different aspects of our skin,” Liki von Oppen Bezalel, PhD, business development director for TriNutra and a contributor to the study, said. “Regulating growth of S. aureus, C. albicans, and M. furfur with the unique composition of black seed oil […] will play an important and long-term role in maintaining skin homeostasis. No ned to settle for less when ingredients like ThymoQuin and B’utyQuin [a topical formulation of Thyomquin] already meet the qualifications needed for both beauty from within and cosmetic applications.”