Sains Malaysiana 42(2)(2013): 143–147

 

Antimicrobial Activity of Nigella sativa Seed Extract

(Aktiviti Antimikro Ekstrak Nigella sativa)

 

 

Nor’Aishah bt Hasan* & Mohd Zaini bin Nawahwi

Unit for Biology, Faculty of Applied Science, Universiti Teknologi MARA, Cawangan Negeri Sembilan, 72000 Beting, Kuala Pilah, Negeri Sembilan Darul Khusus, Malaysia

 

Haslinda bt Ab. Malek

Faculty of Science Computer and Mathematics, Universiti Teknologi MARA

Cawangan Negeri Sembilan, 72000 Beting, Kuala Pilah, Negeri Sembilan Darul Khusus

Malaysia

 

Received: 27 July 2011 / Accepted: 9 October 2012

 

ABSTRACT

Pathogenic bacterial infections have become a major health problem worldwide. New antimicrobial agents are urgently needed to overcome this problem. In this study, antibacterial activity of Nigella sativa seed extract against some pathogenic bacterial strains (Streptococcus pyogene, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Klebseilla pneumoniae and Proteus vulgaris) was evaluated. Methanol extract at the concentration of 100 mg/mL had a remarkable sensitivity towards all tested bacteria in this study. Klebseila pneumonia and Proteus vulgaris showed resistance against aqueous extract at 20 mg/mL. Methanol extract of Nigella sativa exhibited significant antibacterial activity at the concentration of 50 mg/mL (p ≤ 0.01) against Streptococcus pyogenes with a greater inhibition zone of 19 mm, while a 15 mm zone of inhibition was observed in Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Klebseilla pneumonia and Proteus vulgaris. Kruskal Wallis analysis showed that both aqueous and methanol extract of black seed exhibited a greater inhibition on Gram positive bacteria (Streptococcus pyogenes) compared with Gram negative bacteria (Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Klebseilla pneumoniae and Proteus vulgaris). Our study also showed that species, strains and concentrations of Nigella sativa extract are some of the factors that may influence the sensitivity of the tested bacteria. A significant correlation was observed between zone of inhibition and concentration of extract.

 

Keywords: Antimicrobial activity; disk diffusion method; methanol extract; Nigella sativa; pathogenic bacteria

 

ABSTRAK

Jangkitan bakteria patogenik telah menjadi masalah kesihatan utama di seluruh dunia. Agen-agen antimikrob yang baru amat diperlukan untuk mengatasi masalah ini. Dalam penyelidikan ini, aktiviti antibakteria daripada ekstrak bijiNigella sativa telah dikaji terhadap beberapa strain bakteria patogenik (Streptococcus pyogene, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Klebseilla pneumoniae dan Proteus vulgaris). Ekstrak metanol pada kepekatan 100 mg/mL menunjukkan kepekaan terhadap semua bakteria yang diuji dalam kajian ini. Klebseila pneumoniae dan Proteus vulgaris menunjukkan rintangan terhadap ekstrak akues pada 20 mg/mL. Ekstrak metanolNigella sativa menunjukkan aktiviti antibakteria yang ketara pada kepekatan 50 mg/mL (p≤0.01) terhadapStreptococcus pyogenes dengan zon perencatan yang lebih besar iaitu 19 mm, manakala 15 mm zon perencatan yang sama diperhatikan dalamPseudomonas aeruginosa, Klebseilla pneumoniae dan Proteus vulgaris. Analisis Kruskal Wallis yang dijalankan menunjukkan kesan perencatan yang lebih besar terhadap bakteria Gram positif (Streptococcus pyogenes) berbanding dengan bakteria Gram negatif (Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Klebseilla pneumoniaedan Proteus vulgaris) pada kedua-dua ekstrak larutan dan metanol jintan hitam. Kajian ini juga menunjukkan, spesies, strain dan kepekatan ekstrakNigella sativa adalah antara faktor yang mungkin mempengaruhi kepekaan bakteria ujian. Hubungan korelasi yang signifikan dapat diperhatikan antara zon perencatan dan kepekatan yang digunakan bagi kedua-dua ekstrak.

Kata kunci: Aktiviti anti-mikrob; bakteria patogen; cakera kaedah resapan; ekstrak metanol; Nigella sativa

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*Corresponding author; email: aishahnh@ns.uitm.edu.my

 

 

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