Showing papers on "Nigella damascena published in 2009"

Evaluation of Antimicrobial and Anti-Inflammatory Activities of Seed Extracts from Six Nigella Species

Abstract: Seed extracts from six species of the genus Nigella (Family Ranunculaceae)-Nigella arvensis, Nigella damascena, Nigella hispanica, Nigella nigellastrum, Nigella orientalis, and Nigella sativa-obtained by successive extraction with n-hexane, chloroform, and methanol, were tested for their antimicrobial activity against 10 strains of pathogenic bacteria and yeast using the microdilution method as well as for anti-inflammatory properties by in vitro cyclooxygenase (COX)-1 and COX-2 assay. Chemical characterization of active extracts was carried out including free and fixed fatty acid analysis. Comparison of antimicrobial activity showed that N. arvensis chloroform extract was the most potent among all species tested, inhibiting Gram-positive bacterial and yeast strains with minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) values ranging from 0.25 to 1 mg/mL. With the exception of selective inhibitory action of n-hexane extract of N. orientalis on growth of Bacteroides fragilis (MIC = 0.5 mg/mL), we observed no antimicrobial activity for other Nigella species. Anti-inflammatory screening revealed that N. sativa, N. orientalis, N. hispanica, N. arvensis n-hexane, and N. hispanica chloroform extracts had strong inhibitory activity (more than 80%) on COX-1 and N. orientalis, N. arvensis, and N. hispanica n-hexane extracts were most effective against COX-2, when the concentration of extracts was 100 microg/mL in both COX assays. In conclusion, N. arvensis, N. orientalis, and N. hispanica seeds, for the first time examined for antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory effects, revealed their significant activity in one or both assays.

Flavonoid glycosides isolated from the blue flowers of Nigella damascena

Abstract: Two new kaempferol glycosides (1 and 2) were isolated from the blue flowers of Nigella damascena cv 'Ms Jekyll Blue' along with a known anthocyanin (3). The structures of 1 and 2 were elucidated by application of chemical and spectroscopic methods. Compound (3) was a rarely observed anthocyanin in plants.

Different isolation methods for determination of composition of volatiles from Nigella damascena L. seeds.

Abstract: Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) from seeds of Nigella damascena L. were isolated using different techniques. The yield, as well as the qualitative and quantitative composition of the oils, was strongly influenced by the isolation method. In the hydrodistilled essential oil, the major components were the sesquiterpene hydrocarbons beta-elemene (59.1%), beta-selinene (12.8%) and alpha-selinene (12.6%). Conventional solvent extraction, followed by hydrodistillation, resulted in a volatile oil with a different composition than that of the hydrodistilled oil. The extracted oils predominantly contained sesquiterpene hydrocarbons, but also methyl anthranilate derivatives. By means of HS-SPME, it was possible to analyze not only sesquiterpenes and anthranilates, but also monoterpenes and the most volatile compounds, for example, the lower fatty acid (butyric, capronic) esters, which determine the characteristic sweet scent of N. damascena seeds. Using all testing methods, 55 compounds were identified, 40 of which are new for N. damascena seed VOCs.