title: Distribution of primary and specialized metabolites in Nigella sativa seeds, a spice with vast traditional and historical uses.
abstract: Black cumin (Nigella sativa L., Ranunculaceae) is an annual herb commonly used in the Middle East, India and nowadays gaining worldwide acceptance. Historical and traditional uses are extensively documented in ancient texts and historical documents. Black cumin seeds and oil are commonly used as a traditional tonic and remedy for many ailments as well as in confectionery and bakery. Little is known however about the mechanisms that allow the accumulation and localization of its active components in the seed. Chemical and anatomical evidence indicates the presence of active compounds in seed coats. Seed volatiles consist largely of olefinic and oxygenated monoterpenes, mainly p-cymene, thymohydroquinone, thymoquinone, γ-terpinene and α-thujene, with lower levels of sesquiterpenes, mainly longifolene. Monoterpene composition changes during seed maturation. γ-Terpinene and α-thujene are the major monoterpenes accumulated in immature seeds, and the former is gradually replaced by p-cymene, carvacrol, thymo-hydroquinone and thymoquinone upon seed development. These compounds, as well as the indazole alkaloids nigellidine and nigellicine, are almost exclusively accumulated in the seed coat. In contrast, organic and amino acids are primarily accumulated in the inner seed tissues. Sugars and sugar alcohols, as well as the amino alkaloid dopamine and the saponin α-hederin accumulate both in the seed coats and the inner seed tissues at different ratios. Chemical analyses shed light to the ample traditional and historical uses of this plant.
authors.affiliation: Department of Vegetable Crops, Newe Ya'ar Research Center, Agricultural Research Organization, P.O. Box 1021, Ramat Yishay 30095, Israel.
authors.forename: Ilan
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Botnick
authors.forename: Wentao
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Xue
authors.forename: Einat
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Bar
authors.forename: Mwafaq
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ibdah
authors.forename: Amnon
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Schwartz
authors.forename: Daniel M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Joel
authors.forename: Efraim
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Lev
authors.forename: Aaron
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Fait
authors.forename: Efraim
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Lewinsohn
mesh_terms: D016227:Benzoquinones / Q000032:analysis; D000081005:Cyclohexane Monoterpenes; D000081007:Cymenes; D007191:Indazoles / Q000032:analysis; D008519:Medicine, Traditional; D039821:Monoterpenes / Q000032:analysis; D031881:Nigella sativa / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism; D008517:Phytotherapy; D010938:Plant Oils / Q000032:analysis* / Q000737:chemistry; D012639:Seeds / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism; D017365:Spices; D013463:Sulfuric Acid Esters / Q000032:analysis
chemical_list: D016227:Benzoquinones; D000081005:Cyclohexane Monoterpenes; D000081007:Cymenes; D007191:Indazoles; D039821:Monoterpenes; D010938:Plant Oils; D013463:Sulfuric Acid Esters; C531293:nigellidine-4-O-sulfite; C007210:4-cymene; C018669:gamma-terpinene; C003466:thymoquinone