Journal Article

Unlocking the therapeutic potential of Nigella sativa extract: phytochemical analysis and revealing antimicrobial and antioxidant marvels

Faisal, Shah, Mansour, Basem, Rahman, Anees Ur, Abdullah, Abdullah, Yahya, Galal

2024

Overview

The growing global threat of antimicrobial resistance endangers both human and animal life, necessitating the urgent discovery of novel antimicrobial solutions. Medicinal plants hold promise as sources of potential antimicrobial compounds. In this study, we investigated the phytochemical constituents and microbicidal capabilities of the ethanolic extract from Nigella sativa (black seed). Gas chromatography analysis (GC) identified 11 compounds, among them thymoquinone, and thymol, contributing to antimicrobial and antioxidant properties. Antimicrobial assays demonstrated notable inhibition zones against broad spectra of bacteria, including Pseudomonas aeruginosa , Escherichia coli , Salmonella typhi , Staphylococcus aureus , Enterobacter , and Bacillus subtilis , along with potent antifungal activity against Aspergillus niger , Penicillium , and Candida albicans . Notably, when combined with antibiotics, the extract displayed exceptional synergistic antimicrobial efficacy. The black seed extract demonstrated membrane-damaging activity and disrupted virulence factors that protect microbes from antimicrobial agents, including the formation of bacterial biofilm and protease secretion. Thymoquinone, the primary active constituent of the extract, exhibited similar antimicrobial and ant virulence properties. In silico analysis targeting key regulators of quorum sensing and biofilm formation in P. aeruginosa , such as RhlG , LasR , and PqsR , showed a remarkable affinity of thymol and thymoquinone for these targets. Moreover, the N. sativa extract exhibited dose-dependent cytotoxicity against both the promastigote and amastigote forms of Leishmania tropica parasites, hinting at potential antiparasitic activity. In addition to its antimicrobial properties, the extract displayed potential antioxidant activity at a concentration of 400 μg/mL.

• Publisher: BioMed Central,BioMed Central Ltd,Springer Nature B.V,BMC
• Subject: Analysis / Animals / Anti-Infective Agents - chemistry / Anti-Infective Agents - pharmacology / antibiotic resistance / Antibiotics / Antifungal activity / Antifungal agents / antifungal properties / Antiinfectives and antibacterials / Antimicrobial / Antimicrobial agents / Antimicrobial resistance / Antioxidant / antioxidant activity / Antioxidants / Antioxidants - chemistry / Antioxidants - pharmacology / Antiparasitic / Antiparasitic agents / antiparasitic properties / Aspergillus niger / Bacillus subtilis / Bacteria / Bacteria - drug effects / Bacterial infections / biofilm / Biofilms / Black seed / Candida albicans / Chiropractic Medicine / Chromatography / Coliforms / complement / Complementary & Alternative Medicine / computer simulation / Constituents / Cytotoxicity / dose response / Drug resistance in microorganisms / E coli / Enterobacter / Escherichia coli / Fourier transforms / Fungi / Fungicides / Gas chromatography / Health aspects / Herb-Drug interaction / Herbal medicine / humans / Internal Medicine / Leishmania tropica / Ligands / Medicinal plants / Medicine / Medicine & Public Health / Medicine, Botanic / Medicine, Herbal / Microbial Sensitivity Tests / Microbicides / Nigella sativa / Nigella sativa - chemistry / Parasites / Penicillium / Pharmacology / Phytochemicals / Phytochemicals - chemistry / Phytochemicals - pharmacology / Plant Extracts - chemistry / Plant Extracts - pharmacology / Proteases / proteinases / Proteins / Pseudomonas aeruginosa / Quorum sensing / Salmonella Typhi / secretion / seed extracts / Seeds / Seeds - chemistry / Spectrum analysis / Staphylococcus aureus / Synergism / therapeutics / Thymol / thymoquinone / Traditional medicine / Virulence / Virulence factors