Antimicrobial Effects of Nigella sativa Concoction: Herbal Preparation for Opportunistic HIV Infection in Nigeria

Abstract

The use of Nigella sativa concoction is very popular for treatment of different illnesses and its role on opportunistic organisms in Human Immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection required antimicrobial investigation. Against this background this study aimed at determining the antimicrobial effect of Nigella sativa concoction on clinical isolates (Staphylococus aureus, Escherichai coli, Streptococus feacalis and Candida albicans) obtained from HIV infected patients in Nigeria using the Agar disc diffusion and dilution methods. All clinical isolates showed varying degree of susceptibility to Nigella sativa.  At disc concentration of 100mg/ml, Nigella sativa was observed to produce a mean diameter of inhibition of 24 ± 3mm, 28 ± 6mm and 27 ± 3mm to Staphlococuc aureus, Escherichia coli and Streptococus feacalis respectively as compared to 18 ± 5mm, 22 ± 4mm, and 23 ± 4mm obtained with gentamin and 23 ± 4mm, 28 ± 5mm, and 27±4mm recorded with the use of Cefotaxime. Mean diameter of inhibition produced by Nigella sativa against Candida albican was 40±3 mm, while the use of Nystatin and ketoconazole recorded 17±3 mm and 19±2mm respectively against the same isolate.  MIC was 0.8, 0.6, 0.4 and 1.4 ug/ml for Staphylococus. aureus, Staphylococus faecalis, Escherichai .coli and Candida albicans respectively. The study concluded that Nigella sativa concoction is a potent antimicrobial agent when compared with Cefotaxime, Gentamycin, ketoconazole and nystatin