Impact of geographical location on the polyphenolic content of Nigella sativa seed extract and the relative anti-inflammatory and antioxidant potential thereof: A comparative study

The herb Nigella sativa belonging to the family Ranunculaceae is a well-investigated plant that has a wide range of pharmacological effects. The study aimed to evaluate and compare the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory potential as well as phytochemical screening in terms of total phenolic and flavonoid content of N. sativa seeds collected from various locations in India to establish the impact of geographical location on phytoconstituents of the seeds. The total phenolic and flavonoid content in methanolic extracts were evaluated using the Folin-ciocalteu reagent and AlCl3 colourimetric method respectively. The antioxidant activities of the extracts were evaluated using the DPPH method, while the anti-inflammatory activity of the extracts was determined in vitro using the bovine serum albumin denaturation assay. The extract of the seed from Vizag had the highest concentration of polyphenols, followed by those from Madhya Pradesh and Punjab. The study confirmed variations in the quantity of the phytoconstituents of N. sativa seeds of different geographical origins and their consequential impact on the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activity indicating that the geographical location exerts a vital effect on the same.