in B. nigra seed are catechin, epicatechin, gallic acid, caffeic acid, ferulic acid,
myricetin, quercetin and rutin (Lee et al. 2015; Rajamurugan et al. 2012a).
8.6.7 Antibacterial Activity
In developing countries, infectious diseases are one of the major health issues for
which traditional medicinal plants are known to be of paramount help in the past as
well as in the present. B. nigra plant has received much attention in this aspect due to
its antibacterial activity. Several studies have revealed the positive response of
B. nigra plant seed extracts in terms of antibacterial activity (Amare et al. 2015;
Ng et al. 2013; Markose et al. 2016). According to these studies, seed extracts
reacted positively by inhibiting the growth of Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus
cereus, Enterococcus faecalis, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Shigella sonnei, E. coli
and Salmonella spp. (Amare et al. 2015; Obi et al. 2009; Bhatia and Sharma 2012).
The major component found in the essential oil of B. nigra is allyl isothiocyanate, a
non-phenolic sulphur compound known for its ability to inactivate the extracellular
enzymes of bacteria by breaking disulphide bonds (Bhatia and Sharma 2012).
Moreover, the flour of B. nigra seeds is considered as an antiseptic, as it acts against
the growth of many disease-causing microorganisms such as E. coli and Streptococcus spp. (Alam et al. 2011). Glucosinolates have also been purported to be
responsible for the antibacterial activity demonstrated by B. nigra seeds, especially
Shigella sonnei and Salmonella spp. (Mazumder et al. 2016). In addition, B. nigra
also contains sinapine, sinapic acid and sinigrin which have the ability to impart
antimicrobial activities (Obi et al. 2009).
8.6.8 Antifungal Activity
The antifungal activity of B. nigra seeds has been owed to the presence of allyl
isothiocyanate (Mejia-Garibay et al. 2015). B. nigra seeds, as well as many other
types of seeds belonging to the Brassicaceae family, produces a significant amount
of antifungal compounds such as sinigrin and sinapin (Mazumder et al. 2016). In
addition, B. nigra oilseed possesses the ability to act as antifungal compounds
especially against the growth of Aspergillus niger, Aspergillus ochraceus and
Penicillium citrinum (Mejia-Garibay et al. 2015).
8.6.9 Protection Against Gastrointestinal Cancer
Sulphoraphane present in B. nigra seeds (10–20 μg/g) has healing properties and is
best known for its treatment against breast, cervical, prostrate, colon and stomach
200
H. K. S. De Zoysa and V. Y. Waisundara
myricetin, quercetin and rutin (Lee et al. 2015; Rajamurugan et al. 2012a).
8.6.7 Antibacterial Activity
In developing countries, infectious diseases are one of the major health issues for
which traditional medicinal plants are known to be of paramount help in the past as
well as in the present. B. nigra plant has received much attention in this aspect due to
its antibacterial activity. Several studies have revealed the positive response of
B. nigra plant seed extracts in terms of antibacterial activity (Amare et al. 2015;
Ng et al. 2013; Markose et al. 2016). According to these studies, seed extracts
reacted positively by inhibiting the growth of Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus
cereus, Enterococcus faecalis, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Shigella sonnei, E. coli
and Salmonella spp. (Amare et al. 2015; Obi et al. 2009; Bhatia and Sharma 2012).
The major component found in the essential oil of B. nigra is allyl isothiocyanate, a
non-phenolic sulphur compound known for its ability to inactivate the extracellular
enzymes of bacteria by breaking disulphide bonds (Bhatia and Sharma 2012).
Moreover, the flour of B. nigra seeds is considered as an antiseptic, as it acts against
the growth of many disease-causing microorganisms such as E. coli and Streptococcus spp. (Alam et al. 2011). Glucosinolates have also been purported to be
responsible for the antibacterial activity demonstrated by B. nigra seeds, especially
Shigella sonnei and Salmonella spp. (Mazumder et al. 2016). In addition, B. nigra
also contains sinapine, sinapic acid and sinigrin which have the ability to impart
antimicrobial activities (Obi et al. 2009).
8.6.8 Antifungal Activity
The antifungal activity of B. nigra seeds has been owed to the presence of allyl
isothiocyanate (Mejia-Garibay et al. 2015). B. nigra seeds, as well as many other
types of seeds belonging to the Brassicaceae family, produces a significant amount
of antifungal compounds such as sinigrin and sinapin (Mazumder et al. 2016). In
addition, B. nigra oilseed possesses the ability to act as antifungal compounds
especially against the growth of Aspergillus niger, Aspergillus ochraceus and
Penicillium citrinum (Mejia-Garibay et al. 2015).
8.6.9 Protection Against Gastrointestinal Cancer
Sulphoraphane present in B. nigra seeds (10–20 μg/g) has healing properties and is
best known for its treatment against breast, cervical, prostrate, colon and stomach
200
H. K. S. De Zoysa and V. Y. Waisundara