Scientific Validation of Traditional Detoxification Process and Evaluation of its Impact on Anti-Microbial Potency, Phytochemical and Heavy Metals in Nigella sativa

Background

Medicinal plants are the best source for a variety of drugs. In traditional practices, the detoxification method is practiced to reduce toxicity of herbs, because low toxicity is one of the characteristics of phytomedicine which have a positive impact on pharmaceutical drugs.

Aim

In the present study scientific validation attempt has been made to reduce toxicity by performing traditional practices called Sodhana/detoxification. In our study anti-microbial, phytochemical, heavy metal content and stability were evaluated for the detoxified seeds. Seeds of Nigella sativa were subjected to various detoxification methods like roasting, lime and calcium chloride treatment then ground to powder and extracted with 90% ethanol.

Materials and Methods

The anti-microbial study was performed against multidrug-resistant bacterial strains Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeroginosa, Staphylococcus aureus and tested for their antifungal activity against Aspergillus niger, Penicillium crysoginum and Malassezia furfur. Metals present in the extract are analyzed by using plasma-optical emission spectrometry and Mass spectrum analysis was done for compound analysis.

Results

Our experimental results reveal that Lime treated ethanol extract shows strong inhibitory activity against all the tested microbes than the unprocessed N. sativa extract except E.coli. Data reveals that the treatment of seeds has no impact on their major phytochemical; however, changes in metal concentration were recorded. The frequency of reduction by descending order was Lime?CaCl2? roasted. Moreover, the Stability of the extract followed by 12-month storage at room temperature showed significant anti-microbial activity like fresh extract. UPLC-MS/MS spectrum reveals that lime treated contained high levels of fatty acids.

Conclusion

The present study concludes that, after detoxification, the heavy metal content was found to be decreased. Lime treatment is identified as a better method that successfully reduces the toxic elements and possesses high levels of fatty acids and phytochemicals with potent anti-microbial activity and revealed significant improvement in its anti-microbial potency.