Therapeutic potential of the volatile oil of Nigella sativa seeds in monkey model with experimental shigellosis

The volatile oil of Nigella sativa seeds was prominent in in vitro anti‐shigella activity against eight multiple drug resistant strains of Shigella flexneri. The anti‐shigella activity against Shigella flexneri Y SH‐4 was observed in the sera of monkeys after 45–60 min of oral administration of the oil. It exhibited promising in vivo anti‐shigella activity against the same strain when tested in monkey models with experimental shigellosis, fully curing the infected monkeys within 3 days. The rectal swabs of the experimental groups became free of the challenge organism on day 3 of treatment with the volatile oil. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.