Phytochemical characterization and antimicrobial activity of Nigella sativa seeds

Abstract

Nigella sativa is one of the medicinal plant species that gained popularity for a wide range of medicinal applications due to its seeds which are rich in phytoconstituents. Continuous scientific investigations on N. sativa seeds are needed to better understand its many medicinal potentials. This will also form a composition-based foundation that support several old and/or new case beneficial histories of its seeds. In this study, the antimicrobial activity of N. sativa seeds was phytochemically characterized and evaluated. Different extracts of N. sativa seeds were obtained by maceration and soxhlet extraction methods using different extraction solvents. The obtained extracts were tested using UV-Vis, FTIR, TLC, and GC-MS techniques. Antimicrobial analysis against pathogenic bacterial strains (E. coli, P. aeruginosa, S. aureus and B. subtilis) was carried out by disc diffusion method using different preparations of N. sativa seeds. The screening analysis revealed the presence of all the tested phytochemicals. FT-IR analysis of N. sativa seeds oil extracted with absolute ethanol revealed functional groups that are associated with active ingredients of medicinal value. The GC-MS chromatograms revealed different chemical constituents whose known bioactivities and/or applications are essential in the management of life-threatening infections. Different extracts of N. sativa seeds showed antimicrobial activity with different efficacy against the tested pathogenic bacterial strains. Therefore, this study shows that extracts of N. sativa seeds contain a variety of chemical components and functional groups linked to their antimicrobial properties, and they might be natural precursors of nutraceuticals.

Efficacy of Nigella sativa in Wound Healing

“…At ripening, the capsule opens and seeds fell outside to turn black. N. sativa medical applications started almost 2000 y ago in Asia and expanded to Africa and Europe [9] . N. sativa plant served as a spice to cure various ailments such as influenza, asthma, cough, hypertension, bronchitis, diabetes, headache, inflammation, eczema, dizziness and fever.…”

“…Alternative therapies could especially help in treating mild infections. In this regard, N. sativa with antibacterial characteristics could serve as an effective alternative to traditional antibiotics [9] . Wounds are injuries that break the skin or other body tissues.…”

Dermaceutical Utilization of Nigella sativa Seeds: Applications and Opportunities

“…Using various N. sativa seed preparations, disc diffusion antimicrobial analysis against pathogenic bacterial strains ( E. coli, P. aeruginosa, S. aureus , and B. subtilis ) was conducted. Different N. sativa extracts demonstrated antimicrobial activity with varying degrees of efficacy against the pathogenic bacterial strains under test 28 .…”

Advances in research on the relationship between thymoquinone and pancreatic cancer

“…According to the US Food and Drug Administration, Nigella sativa seed oil is categorized as “Generally Recognized as Safe” ( 5 ). The components of Nigella sativa seeds include fixed oil (22–38%), volatile oil (0.40–0.45%), alkaloids (0.01%), amino acids and proteins (21–31%), carbohydrates (25–40%), saponins (0.013%), vitamins (1–4%), minerals (3.7–7%), and terpenoids, p-isocyanate, limonene, thiamine, niacin, and folic acid with different compositions ( Table 1 ) ( 6 ). The main fatty acids of fixed oil are linoleic acid (64.6%) and palmitic acid (20.4%).…”