Atika Liaqat, Liaqat Ali, Muhammad Awais Khalid, Faiqa Liaqat, Faiza Liaqat.
Anti-Microbial Potential of Panacea (Nigella Sativa).
Annals Punjab Med Coll Jan ;12(3):202-6.

Background: In the existing scenario, increasing drug cost, toxic effects and drug resistance or the main motivating factors for researchers to exploit the natural bioactive sources for safe and natural therapeutic as an alternative to antibiotics. Objectives: The main objective of the study is to find out the antimicrobial potential, its spectrum and magnitude in N.sativa. Study Design: Experimental/in vitro study. Duration: September, 2016 – February, 2017. Settings: Different departments (of School of Pharmacy, Pathology and Bio-chemistry of UM & DC), The University of Faisalabad. Methodology: Antibiotics assay is performed by using the disc diffusion methods. N.sativa extracts are prepared and from these sensitivity discs are prepared. Standard size inoculum is also prepared. Then by using standard disc diffusion method the zones of inhibitions produced by N.sativa extracts are measured and recorded in mm and is compared with positive and negative controls. Results: Spice extract tested against test organisms revealed antimicrobial potency with diameter of zone of inhibition (27.17±0.98mm - 31.33±0.21mm) while positive control manifested zone of inhibition (19.33±0.21 - 29.17±0.17mm). Ethanol extracts prepared by Soxhlet apparatus showed better results compared with extracts prepared by simple maceration process. Furthermore, overall ethanol extracts showed better results compared with the aqueous extracts. Conclusion: This study revealed the presence of natural bioactive compound(s) in N.sativa with highly significant broad spectrum antibacterial potential, even against multi resistant pathogens.

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