New principles from seeds of Nigella sativa

Abstract

A new triterpene saponin and known steroidal glucoside were isolated from the alcohol extract, and a new cycloartenol from n-hexane extract of seeds of Nigella sativa L. and were identified as 3-O-[β-D-xylopyranosyl-(1→2)-α-L-rhamnopyranosyl-(1 → 2)-β-D-glucopyranosyl]-11-methoxy-16,23-dihydroxy-28-methylolean-12-enoate (1), stigma-5,22-dien-3-β-D-glucopyranoside (2) and cycloart-23-methyl-7,20, 22-triene-3β,25-diol (3), respectively. They were characterised on the basis of spectral analysis and comparison with literature data. The hexane and alcohol extract of the seeds showed antimicrobial activity. The antioxidant activity of hexane extract is also described.

Keywords:

• Nigella sativa L.
• saponin
• cycloartenol
• antimicrobial activity
• antioxidant activity

Acknowledgements

Authors are thankful to UGC, New Delhi for the financial assistance and RSIC, CDRI, Lucknow, and RSIC, IIT-Bombay for spectral analysis.