a review of anti-microbial activity and chemical composition of essential oil of nigella sativa

Herbs and spices contain medicinal properties making them useful to prevent or treat diseases. nigella sativa is an annual flowering plant growing in countries bordering mediterranean sea, pakistan, india, and iran. it has been identified as anti-malarial, anti-asthmatic, anti-tumor, anti-viral, anti-microbial, anti-inflammatory, gastro-protective, anti-hypertensive, anti-diabetic, anti-atherosclerotic, anti-oxidant, and anti-cholesterol agent. according to the studies, n. sativa oil is identified to produce anti-microbial activity against various types of microorganisms, especially multiple-antibiotic resistant bacteria. based on the studies, compounds such as phellandrene, α-pinene, β-pinene, p-cymene, cis-carveol, trans-anethole, thymoquinone, thymol, α-longipinene and longifolene are identified in the composition of n. sativa oil (1). thymoquinone, one the most active components of n. sativa oil, has different pharmacological properties as well as a broad anti-microbial activity against various types of microorganisms, such as gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria, viruses, parasites, and fungi (2). in conclusion, n. sativa essential oil has been shown to have anti-microbial activity against a broad range of microbes and it can be used as an anti-microbial supplement for the development of new therapeutic agents.