In Romania Nigella sativa, Nigella damascena and Nigella arvensis from genus Nigella are cultivated or grow spontaneously. We have investigated in vitro antimicrobial activity of ethanol extracts and the volatile oils of the seeds of these three species using microorganisms from laboratory collection. The seeds were obtained from Craiova University, Romania. The volatile oil was isolated by distillation with water steam in Neo-Clevenger apparatus [1]. The test was performed using diffusimetric method [2] with rustles steel cylinders based on the diffusion of the tested substances on the gelose surface. Antibacterial activity was demonstrated for ethanol extract and volatile oil of Nigella sativa against Staphylococcus aureus and Bacillus subtilis. The ethanol extract of Nigella sativa was active against Candida albicans. The residue obtained from EtOH extract was suspended in water and successively extracted with CHCl3-EtOAc-ButOH. CHCl3 and ButOH were active against Candida albicans. Nigella arvensis and Nigella damascena in these working conditions were inactive.
References