Phytochemical Screening And Antibacterial Activity Of Nigella Sativa L. And Cuminum Cyminium (Iruseeragam)

Abstract

Iruseeragam is a compound drug consisting of Nigella sativa L and Cuminum cymium L. Microbial infections and antibiotic resistance pose significant global health challenges, necessitating the discovery of novel effective, and affordable antimicrobial agents. This study aims to screen the preliminary phytochemicals and antibacterial activity and determine the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of M sativa and C. cyminium. Aqueous and methanolic extracts of both plants were screened for phytochemicals and antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus (NCTE 6571) and Pseudomonas aeruginosa (NCTC 10662) using an agar cut well diffusion method and MIC was determined using an agar dilution method. Alkaloids, tannins, flavonoids, and saponins are present in both extracts of both plants. Additionally, terpenoids are found in both extracts of C cyminum and glycoside is in the methanolic extract. The antibacterial activity revealed that both extracts of both plants showed antibacterial activity against S. aureus (Gram-positive) and P. aeruginosa (Gram- negative). The mean diameter of zone of inhibition (201) of aqueous extract of N sativa and G cyminum was 13.67+0.58 and 12 67+0.58 mm for S. aureus and 14.67+0.58 and 15.67 0.58 mm for P. aeruginosa respectively, while methanolic extract of N. sativa and C. cymmax showed inhibitory activity against S. aureus 1467±0.76 and 16.67±0.58 mm and P. aeruginosa 18.50±0.50 and 17.67-0.58 mm respectively. The MIC of methanolic extract of N. sativa was 2.5 mg/ml for S. aureus and 5 mg/ml for P. aeruginosa whereas MIC of methanolic extract C evinimum was 5 mg/ml for both S. aureus and P. aeruginosa. Moreover, the presence of tannins, saponins, and flavonoids in these plants plays a crucial role in their antibacterial activity. These findings suggest that iruseeragam could be a potential source of novel antimicrobial agents. Further studies are needed to identify and characterize the bioactive compounds responsible for the antibacterial activity in individual plants and compound drug.