Pharmacological screening and GC-MS analysis of vegetative/reproductive parts of Nigella sativa L

Pak J Pharm Sci. 2020 Sep;33(5):2103-2111.

Abstract

Nigella sativa is an extensively utilized herbal medicinal plant. Medicinal utilization of seeds and oil of N. sativa was common among all the ancient medicinal systems. Previously, the vegetative part of the plant was not utilized for pharmaceutical purposes. Therefore, the current study was aimed at determining the potential of the vegetative parts (leaves, branches and stem) of the plant to reduce the pressure on the reproductive part (seeds/oil) and to get a potential alternate source of pharmaceutical materials. The experiment was carried out in split block RCD design. The dried plant was extracted through partitioning method in a series of concentrations ranging from 200-1.562mg/ml in different solvents. Phyto-chemical screening, antibacterial and anti-oxidant assays and GC-MS analysis of the potent extracts were done. The green parts of N. sativa were shown to contain saponins, alkaloids, terpenoids, steroids, cardiac glycosides, tannins, and flavonoids, whereas phloba-tannins were absent. Evaluation of anti-aging properties through antioxidant assays yielded significant results in all the assays. Linoleic acid, palmitic acid, stearic acid, oleic acid and glyceryl linoleate were profiled through GC-MS analysis. Based on these results, it was concluded that the vegetative parts of N. sativa are effective alternatives to the reproductive part/seed for anti-aging and other phytochemicals needed to meet the present day requirements of the pharmaceutical industry.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study

MeSH terms

  • Anti-Bacterial Agents / isolation & purification*
  • Anti-Bacterial Agents / pharmacology
  • Antioxidants / isolation & purification*
  • Antioxidants / pharmacology
  • Bacteria / drug effects
  • Bacteria / growth & development
  • Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry*
  • Nigella sativa / anatomy & histology
  • Nigella sativa / chemistry*
  • Oxidative Stress / drug effects
  • Pharmacognosy
  • Phytochemicals / isolation & purification*
  • Phytochemicals / pharmacology
  • Plant Components, Aerial / anatomy & histology
  • Plant Components, Aerial / chemistry*
  • Plant Extracts / isolation & purification*
  • Plant Extracts / pharmacology
  • Plant Leaves / chemistry
  • Plant Stems / chemistry
  • Seeds / chemistry

Substances

  • Anti-Bacterial Agents
  • Antioxidants
  • Phytochemicals
  • Plant Extracts