CHEMICAL AND BIOLOGICAL SCREENING OF NIGELLA SATIVA LINN. GROWN IN STATE OF JAMMU & KASHMIR

Nigella sativa Linn. (Kolonji) seeds are extensively used for medicinal purposes in Asia, Middle East and Far East countries from a long time. Extract of Nigella sativa seeds have ability to show anti-radical, antibacterial, anti-tumor and anti-inflammatory activities. Present study was carried out to detect some important compounds which are responsible for these activities. Through phytochemical screening it was revealed that alkaloids, steroids, flavonoids, terpenoids, phenols, coumarine and carbohydrates are present in methanolic extract of Nigella sativa seeds while pholabotannins and emodol are absent. Anti-bacterial activity was performed against S. aureus, E. coli, B. subtilis, B. pumilus, P. aeruginosa bacterial strains and maximum zone of inhibition was observed against E. coli and P. aeruginosa. Methanolic extract of Nigella sativa seeds were also screened for anti-radical scavenging activity by using DPPH and ABTS methods. Total phenolic contents (TPC) and total flavonoid contents (TFC) were determined in quantitative screening