Effect of Metal Ions and Drugs on Antibacterial Activities of Nigella Sativa (L.) Seeds

The present study was conducted to find out the antibacterial activity of aqueous and organic extracts of Nigella sativa (L.) seeds against various bacterial pathogens, namely; S. aureus, P. aeruginosa and E. coli. Plant extract along with different elicitors such as metal ions and commercial drugs was also screened to see the change in efficacy and potency of the compounds. Among different extracts ethyl acetate extract proved maximum act iv i ty towards Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa while minimum was observed against Escherichia coli. Ethanolic and methanolic extracts exhibited dose-dependent activity. Ciprofloxacin exhibited a synergistic effect with ethyl acetate extract giving zone of inhibition of 18.0mm against S. aureus. When 0.1% Cu was mixed with Ethyl acetate extract it proved 72.0% increase in the activity as it decreased the Minimum inhibitory concentration up to 1.25mg/ml from 4.5mg/ml. No growth was found in the Nutrient agar plate which was mixed with crude oil of Nigella sativa (L.) seeds.