A COMPARATIVE AND SYNERGISTIC IN-VITRO ANTIMICROBIAL EVALUATION OF NIGELLA SATIVA AND AMARANTHUS POLYGONOIDES SEED EXTRACT

Abstract

The present study aimed to evaluate the antimicrobial activity of seed extracts of Amaranthus polygonoides and Nigella sativa, individually and in combination, using the agar disc diffusion method. The extracts were tested at concentrations of 20, 40, and 60 µg/ml, and their efficacy was compared with the standard antibiotic ciprofloxacin. The results demonstrated that both individual and combined extracts exhibited concentration-dependent antimicrobial activity. The Nigella sativa extract showed zones of inhibition of 8 mm, 14 mm, and 18 mm, while Amaranthus polygonoides exhibited 9 mm, 12 mm, and 16 mm at 20, 40, and 60 µg/ml, respectively. The combined extract displayed improved activity with inhibition zones of 12 mm, 15 mm, and 18 mm at the respective concentrations, indicating a possible synergistic effect. The standard drug ciprofloxacin showed significantly higher antimicrobial activity, with zones of inhibition of 18 mm, 22 mm, and 29 mm at corresponding concentrations. Among the plant extracts, the combined formulation demonstrated comparatively better antimicrobial efficacy than the individual extracts.