A black seed, long used in cooking and traditional medicine, has shown promise in lowering cholesterol levels in a new clinical trial . Researchers think it might even inhibit the formation of mature fat cells, based on lab-grown cell experiments . Black cumin ( Nigella sativa ) is a flowering plant native to western Asia and eastern Europe, whose seeds are commonly used as a spice in curries and on vegetables. Humans have cultivated cumin for thousands of years , according to archaeological