anti-microbial effect of nigella sativa seed extract against staphylococcal skin infection

background : the development of microbial resistance to the existing anti-microbial agents has become a real challenge and a serious problem facing patients suffering from skin infections. seeds of nigella sativa have been used for a long time in folk medicine for the treatment of skin infections. production of new potent agents is urgently needed, especially for hospitals and health care centers. this study is designed to explore anti-microbial effect of extract from the nigella sativa seeds against skin pustules infection.   methods: the in vivo anti-microbial effect of the nigella sativa seeds extract at a concentration of 33% on pustules staphylococcal skin infections was assessed and compared with standard drug mupirocin on 40 neonates .all neonates were divided and examined into two experimental and control groupsrandomly. recovery times were compared between two groups.   results : the mean of recovery time in experimental group was 75/1 with sd= ± 12, and the mean of recovery time in control group was 69/4 with sd = ± 8/7.there was no significant difference in recovery time between two groups (p value = 0/131).   conclusion: in clinical practice, the agent of nigella sativa recovered as pustular from tissues of all patients. while the extract was as nearly effective as the standard drug, mupirocin , no side effect was observed.