Antioxidant activity of essential oil extracted from Nigella sativa L.
March 31, 2010
| Abstract Title: | Antioxidant activity of essential oil extracted from Nigella sativa L. |
| Authors: | Claudia-Crina Toma1, F.M.G. Vata1, M.F. Munteanu1, A. Barbura 1, N.K. Olah2 |
| Affiliation: | 1 “Vasile Goldis” Western University of Arad, Romania, Department of Pharmacognosy 2 “Vasile Goldis” Western University of Arad, Romania, Department of Pharmaceutical Industry |
| Abstract text: | Nigella sativa L. is an annual herbaceous plant which belongs to the family of Ranunculaceae, widely cultivated in Middle East, Asia and Northern Africa. The seeds, known as black cumin, are used for culinary purposes, as a spice for pastry and bakery. Nigella seeds and oil are used in arabian folk medicine for the treatment of asthma, as carminative, diuretic or galactogogue. More recently Nigella sativa fixed oil showed gastroprotective, hepatoprotective and antitumour effects in vivo. The biological effects of the oil are mainly atributable to thymoquinones, known as powerfull antioxidants. Other components such are polyunsaturated fatty acids, phytosterols and tocopherols can contribute to the beneficial effects of the black cumin seeds. The lipid composition, including lipid classes, fatty acids and sterols of Nigella seeds of various geographical origins were reported. The fixed oil contains high levels of unsaturated fatty acids and an unusual fatty acid – 20:2 (11c, 14c) – considered as a chemo-taxonomic marker for Nigella species. The main sterols reported in black cumin seeds were β-sitosterol, stigmasterol and campesterol. The aim of this work was the study of lipid fraction in the oil of Nigella seeds cultivated in Romania, as a potential nutraceutical or ingredient of functional food. The main compounds from lipophilic fraction are responsible for the pharmacological activity of the Nigellae sativae semen. The essential oil obtained by hydrodistillation from Tunisian Nigellae sativae semen is rich in bioactive compounds, exhibiting bactericides, antibacterial and antioxidant activities. The antioxidant activity was tested by two different methods. The qualitative and quantitative analyses of essential oil were performed using GC-MS method. There were identified from Nigella sativa essential 30 compounds in considerable percentages, among them: the alpha-pinene (13.75%), the limonene (2.55%), the p-cymene (43.58%), the carvacrol (2.53%) and the tymoquinone (1.65%). The evaluation, by different methods, of the studied essential oil shows a significant antioxidant activity. |
| Keywords: | Nigella sativae, Ranunculaceae, lipophilic fraction, antioxidant activity |
| Presentation type: | Poster |
| Correspondence: | no. 1 Feleacului St., Arad, Romania |
| Email: | claudiatoma2004@yahoo.com |
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