Nigella sativa essential oil constituents and its Antimicrobial, cytotoxic and necrotic replies

Abstract

Nigella sativa essential oil (EO) chemical constituents and its biological properties were studied in this work. EO was identified using UPLC MS/MS analysis. Antimicrobial activity of the EO was investigated against fungi, bacteria (G+ve, G-ve), and yeasts quantifying the inhibition zones. Tolerate ability of EO treated Hep G2 cells were assessed by MTT assay, flow cytometric analysis of cell cycle progression was conducted using 0.4, 0.8, 1.2 and 1.6 % (v/v) of Nigella sativa EOfor 3h. UPLC MS/MS analysis revealed that the EO major constituents were monoterpenes (hydrocarbons and phenolics) flowed by Phenylpropanoids and sesquiterpenes. p-Cymene followed by γ-Terpinene, α-Phellandrene, and α-Thujene were the major hydrocarbons constituents. Antimicrobial inhibitory effect of Nigella sativa EO increased at 20, 40, and 60 μl/ml for all tested microorganisms which may correlated with its monoterpene hydrocarbons and phenolic contents. Exposure of Hep G2 cells to Nigella sativa EOfor 24 h caused a substantial cytotoxicity as a concentration dependent, while survival of cells were lessened. A significant increase in the proportions of apoptotic/necrotic Hep G2 cells in sub-G1 phase. No change in cell cycle progression was indicated. Results conveyed the ability of using Nigella sativa EO as antimicrobial agents.