Essential Oil and Fixed Oil Content of Nigella sativa after A Traditional Medicine Processing-A Comparative Study

Author: Anahita Ghourchian*, Homa Hajimehdipoor**, Leila Ara**, Rasool Choopani*, Mohammad **Kamalinejad***, Ahmad Salimzadeh****, Latif Gachkar***** and Mahnaz Malekfar******

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Abstract

Nigella sativa seeds are widely used in Iranian Traditional Medicine (ITM). N. sativa oil, especially its essential oil, has more therapeutic effects than the whole seed. According to ITM this plant has a hot and dry temperament and causes respiratory complications in individuals with hot temperament. To resolve this problem, ITM references recommend processing the seeds with vinegar called "tadbir". In the present investigation, essential oil and fixed oil compositions of crude and processed seeds have been compared. Fixed and Essential oil compositions of crude and processed seeds were determined by using GC and GC-MS techniques, respectively. The comparative study showed that the crude samples had more essential and fixed oils. While type and content of fatty acids of the two samples were similar, thymoquinone (TQ) was absent in processed seeds. If TQ induces respiratory complications, processing with vinegar may eliminate the mentioned disadvantage of N. sativa seeds.

Keywords

Nigella sativa, processing, Iranian Traditional Medicine, essential oil, fixed oil

Conclusion

Nigella sativa seeds are widely used in Iranian Traditional Medicine (ITM). N. sativa oil, especially its essential oil, has more therapeutic effects than the whole seed. According to ITM this plant has a hot and dry temperament and causes respiratory complications in individuals with hot temperament. To resolve this problem, ITM references recommend processing the seeds with vinegar called "tadbir". In the present investigation, essential oil and fixed oil compositions of crude and processed seeds have been compared. Fixed and Essential oil compositions of crude and processed seeds were determined by using GC and GC-MS techniques, respectively. The comparative study showed that the crude samples had more essential and fixed oils. While type and content of fatty acids of the two samples were similar, thymoquinone (TQ) was absent in processed seeds. If TQ induces respiratory complications, processing with vinegar may eliminate the mentioned disadvantage of N. sativa seeds.

References

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How to cite this article

Anahita Ghourchian*, Homa Hajimehdipoor, Leila Ara, Rasool Choopani*, Mohammad **Kamalinejad, Ahmad Salimzadeh*, Latif Gachkar and Mahnaz Malekfar* (2016). Essential Oil and Fixed Oil Content of Nigella sativa after A Traditional Medicine Processing-A Com