Phytochemical Analysis of Plant Parts and Cultures of Nigella sativa Linn. (Ranunculaceae)

Nigella sativa Linn. (Ranunculaceae) is commonly known as Kalonji. The plant and its parts mainly seeds are used in Traditional System of Medicine. The seeds are reported to possess hepatoprotective, anti-inflammatory[1], hypoglycemic[2], antibacterial, carminative and stimulant activities. The seeds of the plant contain alkaloids like nigellamine[3], nigellicine; fixed oil, and essential oil, while leaves and flowering tops of the plant were reported to contain alkaloids, ascorbic acid and saponin glycosides. The static callus of leaf, stem and suspension culture of leaf were successfully developed and maintained on MS medium supplemented with various plant growth regulators. The natural leaf, stem, their respective calli and leaf suspension cultures were subjected for phytochemical screening. The content of phenolics and flavonoids was estimated and compared in plant parts and cultures. Ascorbic acid was also estimated by HPTLC in natural leaf, stem their calli and suspension culture. Acknowledgements: The financial support from the All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE), New Delhi, India is duly acknowledged. References: [1] Al-Ghamdi MS (2001)J Ethnopharmacol 76: 45–48. [2] Al-Hader A, Aqel M, et al. (1993) Int J of Pharmacol 31: 96–100. [3]. Atta-ur-Rehman, Malik S, et al. (1992)J Nat Prod 55: 676–678.