Abstract

A STUDY ON THE IN VITRO ANTIFUNGAL ACTIVITY OF NIGELLA SATIVA (LINN.) SEED EXTRACT AND IT'S PHYTOCHEMICAL SCREENING USING GC-MS ANALYSIS.

Sheik Noor Mohamed. M, Jaikumar. K, Babu. A Anand. D and Saravanan. P*

ABSTRACT

Medicinal plants possess most important source and biodynamic compounds of curative values. Dermatophytic infection of skin and subcutaneous tissue by fungi usually needs a long term of treatment. Nigella sativa is a widely used medicinal plant in various native medicinal practices. The plant seed is reported to posses a number of pharmacological activities. The methanolic extract of the seed was investigated for the presence of novel bioactive compounds using Gas Chromatography and Mass Spectrometry analysis method. Antifungal susceptibilities of dermatophytes to methanolic seed extract was studied using agar well diffusion method. Seven clinically isolated fungal pathogens were used for the study. The results showed that seed extract contains 13 novel bioactive compounds and the tested sample showed remarkable antifungal activity in comparison to standard antibiotic drug Clotrimazele. The obtained result interprets that Nigella sativa possess potential anti-dermatophytic activity.

Keywords: Nigella sativa, antifungal, GC-MS, skin fungi, agar well diffusion.