PHYTOCHEMICAL SCREENING AND ANTIBACTERIAL EFFICACY OF BLACK CUMIN (NIGELLA SATIVA L.) SEEDS

[...]to validate the traditional medicinal importance of black cumin, chemical analysis of the seeds is of greatest interest, so that its potential in the cure of many diseases can be examined and to find its active principles by characterization and isolation of its components. H2SO4(2ml) was made and thoroughly shaken in a test tube, the presence of terpenoids was noted by the appearance of reddish-brown color. (b) Liebermann-Burchard test 100 mg extract was shaken in test tube with chloroform, and then acetic anhydride drops were mixed in the mixture and boiled in hot water bath followed by rapid cooling with chilled water. 2ml of conc. [...]half volume of chloroform and diluted ammonia was added, that formed rose pink red layer of ammonia, indicating the presence of anthraquinone glycosides. (b) Cardiac glycoside (Keller-Killiani test) 1mL dried filtrate of cumin extract was shaken with 5mL of distilled water, then 2mL of glacial acid was added to the mixture along with few drops of ferric chloride (FeCl3) and 1mL H2SO4. Antibacterial study To identify the anti-bacterial activity of black cumin both gram positive and gram-negative bacteria were utilized.