@article {2505, title = {Phytochemical Analysis and Pro-Melanogenic Activity of Nigella sativa Extract in B16F10 Cells: A Natural Candidate for Vitiligo Treatment}, journal = {Pharmacognosy Journal}, volume = {17}, year = {2025}, month = {June 2025}, pages = {307-313}, type = {Original Article}, chapter = {307}, abstract = {

Background: Vitiligo is a chronic depigmentation disorder caused by the selective destruction of melanocytes, with limited effective treatment options, particularly in resource-limited regions. Nigella sativa (black cumin seed, BCS) has traditionally been used for various skin ailments, including pigmentation disorders. Objectives: This study aimed to evaluate the pro-melanogenic activity of a 96\% ethanol extract of Indonesian BCS (EE BCS) in B16F10 cells. Methods: Phytochemical profiling was performed using gas chromatography{\textendash}mass spectrometry (GC-MS), and thymoquinone (TQ) content was quantified by highperformance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Cell viability (MTT assay), tyrosinase activity (L-DOPA assay), and melanin content were measured. Results: GC-MS identified 9,12-octadecadienoic acid methyl ester (E,E) as the predominant compound (45.88\%), while HPLC confirmed a relatively low TQ concentration (0.04\%). EE BCS maintained \>90\% cell viability at concentrations up to 12.50 ppm and exhibited an IC50 of 56.41 ppm. Tyrosinase activity significantly increased at 6.25 ppm (136.40\%; p \< 0.05) and 12.50 ppm (228.10\%; p \< 0.01), accompanied by a significant elevation in melanin content (226.00\%; p \< 0.05 and 266.90\%; p \< 0.01 respectively). Conclusion: EE BCS can effectively promote melanogenesis, despite containing low levels of thymoquinone, potentially through synergistic actions of its phytochemical constituents. Given its region-specific phytochemical richness, Indonesian N. sativa extract holds promise as a natural therapeutic candidate for vitiligo. Further in-vivo and clinical validation is warranted.

}, keywords = {B16F10, Melanogenesis, Nigella sativa, Thymoquinone, Tyrosinase, Vitiligo}, doi = {10.5530/pj.2025.17.39}, author = {Dian Pratiwi and Silmi Mariya and Raendi Rayendra and Agus Setiyono} } @article {145, title = {Antimicrobial Effects of Thymoquinone on Entamoeba histolytica and Giardia lamblia}, journal = {Pharmacognosy Journal}, volume = {8}, year = {2015}, month = {December 2015}, pages = {168-170}, type = {Original Article}, chapter = {168}, abstract = {

Background: Parasitic infections are a major difficulty in tropical and subtropical countries. Traditionally medicinal plants have been used in folk medicine to treat parasitic infections and are a valuable source of novel anti-parasitics. Objective: In our search for therapeutic alternatives to anti- protozoal chemotherapy, thymoquinone, the active ingredient of Black cumin (Nigella sativa) was examined. Materials and Methods: Thymoquinone was tested against Entamoeba histolytica and Giardia lamblia using in vitro susceptibility assays and the mortality of the parasites were then obtained using the standard calculations. The compound was also tested for 48 and 72 hours on both parasites. Results: The current study indicate that the mortality of TQ showed 85.5\%, 91.5\% and 96.8\% mortality on E. histolytica for 25 ppm at 24 hr, 48 and 72 hr, respectively, with IC50 2\¥10-19,. On the other hand, this natural compound showed a mortality of 82.83\%, 91.76\% and 96.62\% mortality on G. lamblia for 25 ppm at 24 hr, 48 and 72 hr, respectively, with IC50 4.8\¥10-5. Metrondizole powder gave 70.9\% mortality at 156 ppm at the same times. Conclusion: The current results indicate that TQ is more potent on E. histolytica compared to G. lamblia. Further pharmacological studies were needed to help in the clinical presentation of thymoquinone.

}, keywords = {Entamoeba histolytica, Giardia lamblia., Nigella sativa, Prophetic Medicine, Thymoquinone}, doi = {10.5530/pj.2016.2.12}, author = {Bassem Yousef Sheikh and Manal Mohamed Elhassan Taha and Waleed Syaed Koko and Siddig Ibrahim Abdelwahab} }