Antioxidant activity of Nigella sativa essential oil.
The essential oil of black cumin seeds, Nigella sativa L., was tested for a possible antioxidant activity. A rapid evaluation for antioxidants, using two TLC screening methods, showed that thymoquinone and the components carvacrol, t-anethole and 4-terpineol demonstrated respectable radical scavenging property. These four constituents and the essential oil possessed variable antioxidant activity when tested in the diphenylpicrylhydracyl assay for non-specific hydrogen atom or electron donating activity. They were also effective.OH radical scavenging agents in the assay for non-enzymatic lipid peroxidation in liposomes and the deoxyribose degradation assay. GC-MS analysis of the essential oil obtained from six different samples of Nigella sativa seeds and from a commercial fixed oil showed that the qualitative composition of the volatile compounds was almost identical. Differences were mainly restricted to the quantitative composition.
Institute of Pharmacognosy, Karl-Franzens-University of Graz, Austria.
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D000818:Animals; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D019661:Apiaceae / Q000737:chemistry*; D015764:Bepridil / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000378:metabolism; D001713:Biphenyl Compounds; D002417:Cattle; D002712:Chlorides; D003855:Deoxyribose / Q000378:metabolism; D005290:Ferric Compounds / Q000378:metabolism; D005609:Free Radicals / Q000378:metabolism; D008401:Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry; D007202:Indicators and Reagents / Q000378:metabolism; D015227:Lipid Peroxidation / Q000187:drug effects*; D008081:Liposomes / Q000378:metabolism; D010851:Picrates; D010938:Plant Oils / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D012639:Seeds / Q000737:chemistry*
D000975:Antioxidants; D001713:Biphenyl Compounds; D002712:Chlorides; D005290:Ferric Compounds; D005609:Free Radicals; D007202:Indicators and Reagents; D008081:Liposomes; D010851:Picrates; D010938:Plant Oils; D003855:Deoxyribose; D015764:Bepridil; C004931:1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl; C024555:ferric chloride