Exploresearch (ISSN: 3048-815X) ( Vol. 03| No. 1 | January - March, 2026 )

Phytochemical Screening, Antioxidant and DNA Protection Study of Nigella Sativa Seed Extract

Author: Dr. Aqeela A. S. Qureshi & Dr. Mustaqeem Mohammed Abbas

Nigella sativa seed extracts were obtained using both methanol and water as solvents, employing cold maceration and Soxhlet extraction techniques. GC-MS analysis was performed to compare the phytochemical constituents in seed extract of Kalonji in chloroform with and without evaporation. The antioxidant activity was investigated using DPPH method. The protective effects of all extracts against oxidative DNA damage induced by photolyzed hydrogen peroxide were assessed using the pBR322 plasmid. In GC–MS analysis, constituents with high therapeutic potential—such as Dodecan-1-amine, thymoquinone, and p-cymene—were detected only in the original extract prepared without solvent evaporation. The results of GCMS indicated that bioactive components are lost during the evaporation or drying of the extract. The DPPH study confirmed the highest radical scavenging activity in methanolic seed extract prepared by Soxhlet method. The findings from the DNA damage assay further demonstrated the potential of Nigella sativa seed extracts in effectively preventing the DNA damage.

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