In vitro Evaluation of the Synergistic
Antimicrobial Effect of Boswellia Sacra and
Nigella Sativa, Essential Oil on Human
Pathogenic Microbial Strains

Aamir Javed; R.T. Venkatesha; Sneh Sagar; Parameswaraiah M.V.; Debashree Ganguly; S. Murugan; Ashwini L.S.

Abstract

In vitro Evaluation of the Synergistic Antimicrobial Effect of Boswellia Sacra and Nigella Sativa, Essential Oil on Human Pathogenic Microbial Strains

Objective: The aim of the research work was to assess out the antimicrobial activity of Boswellia Sacra and Nigella Sativa essential oils. Essential oils are aromatic oils extract from vegetative as well as reproductive organs of plants such as stem, bark, root, flowers, fruits, seeds etc. The essential oils are a rich source of biologically active components and are shown to possess antibacterial, antifungal, antiviral, insecticidal, anti-helminthic and antioxidant properties.
Methods: Agar-Disc Diffusion Method And Preparation of Microbial Cultures: 3X 105 CFU/ml and Determination of minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC). In recent times, there is an extensive interest in essential oil due to the emergence and spread of new drug resistant human pathogens to existing antimicrobials. The coming out of medicine conflicting pathogens is one of the most vital threats to active treatment of bacterial disease.
Result: The result of antibacterial screening by agar disc diffusion method (Table-1) indicates that highest zone of inhibition was shown by the oil Nigella sativa for E. faecalis 45 mm/2.5 μl and lowest for Salmonella typhi 14.5mm/2.5 μl. The Boswellia sacra oils highest zone of inhibition for Staphylococcus aureus 24mm/2.5 μl and lowest for the Klebsiella pneumonia 13mm/2.5 μl. The mode of action of essential oils likely involves quite a lot of targets in the cell due to great number of active components and also their hydrophobicity enables them to partition in the lipids of the cell membrane, rendering them permeable and leading to leakage of cell contents.
Conclusion: Although, both the oils were found to be effective in inhibiting pathogens to varying degrees to the tested organisms, the black cumin oil is found to be more effective than frankincense. Among the pathogens, E. faecalis was highly susceptible to both the oils. When both oils were used in combination, they have shown strong synergistic effect against all the pathogens tested in the present.