European Journal of Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Sciences

A REVIEW ON ANTIBACTERIAL, ANTIFUNGAL AND ANTIOXIDANT ACTIVITY OF NIGELLA SATIVA

Haridas D. Mahale*, Dr. Ravi S. Wanare, Dr Ravikiran B. Wakde, Dr. Arun M. Mahale and
Dr. Swati P. Deshmukh

ABSTRACT

Nigella sativa (family Ranunculaceae) is a widely used medicinal plant throughout the world. It is very popular in various traditional systems of medicine like Unani and Tibb, ayurveda, and Siddha. Seeds and oil have a long history of folklore usage in various systems of medicine and food. The seeds of n. Sativa has been widely used in the treatment of different diseases and ailments. In Islamic literature, it is considered as one of the most significant forms of healing medicine. It has been recommended for use regularly in Tibb-e-nabi (prophetic medicine). It has been widely used as an antihypertensive, liver tonic, diuretic, digestive, anti-diarrheal, appetite stimulant, analgesic, anti-bacterial, and in skin disorders. Extensive studies on n. Sativa has been carried out by various researchers and a wide spectrum of its pharmacological actions have been explored which may include antidiabetic, anticancer, immunomodulator, analgesic, antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, spasmolytic, bronchodilator, hepato-protective, renal protective, gastro-protective, antioxidant properties, etc. Due to its miraculous power of healing, n. Sativa has got a place among the top-ranked evidence-based herbal medicines. This also revealed that most of the therapeutic properties of this plant are due to the presence of thymoquinone which is a major bioactive component of the essential oil. The present review is an effort to provide a detailed survey of the literature on scientific research on pharmacognostic characteristics, chemical composition, and pharmacological activities of the seeds of this plant.

Keywords: Nigella sativa, antibacterial antifungal, antioxidant.