A Technology for Isolation and Analysis of Lipophilic and Hydrophilic Biologically Active Components from N. sativa L. Seeds.

Introduction. Seeds of Nigella sativa L. are widely known as a source of fatty oil with a very rare component-thymoquinone. The therapeutic potential of biologically active compounds of plant seeds covers a positive effect on the gastrointestinal tract, cardiovascular and immune systems. In addition, hypoglycemic, antioxidant, antitumor, oncoprotective, immunomodulating effects were found in thymoquinone. In addition to fatty oil and thymoquinone, a number of other significant compounds are present in the seeds, which also make up their own pharmacological asset. Aim. Study was to develop a processing flow chart and analyze the lipophilic and hydrophilic components of the seeds of N. sativa L.

Materials and methods. The following methods were used as analytical methods: gas-liquid chromatography with a flame ionization detector - for the analysis of sterols and triterpenes; chromatography-mass spectrometry (gas-liquid chromatography with mass spectrometric detection) - for the study of essential oil; chromatography-mass spectrometry (high performance liquid chromatography with mass spectrometric detection) - to study flavonoids. To obtain individual fractions of biologically active compounds of seeds of N. sativa L., fractional extraction was used.

Results and discussion. The principle of this approach in this case is to extract the entire lipid complex of seeds with n-hexane, followed by removal of the extractant. The thickened hexane extract is treated with ethyl alcohol, which extracts unsaponifiable compounds - terpenes, quinones, sterols and does not dissolve triacylglycerides. The seed meal remaining after hexane extraction is treated with ethyl alcohol 70 %, into which hydrophilic molecules, in particular flavonoids, pass.

Conclusion. After transesterification, 5 compounds were identified in the lipophilic fraction of saponifiable lipids, the linoleic and oleic acids being dominant. A characteristic feature of this fraction is the presence of cis-11,14-eicosadiene acid, which can act as a marker element of the fatty oil of the seeds of N. sativa L. Sterols and triterpenes were found in the unsaponifiable fraction. The major component of this fraction is β-sitosterol. In addition to the indicated sterol, campesterol and stigmasteri are present. Triterpenes are represented by cycloartenol and its derivatives. Simple phenols, quinones and monoterpenes were found in the essential oil complex, p-cymol, thymoquinone and α-thuyen predominate. The hydrophilic fraction of the seeds of N. sativa L. includes flavonoids of the methoxylated series of flavones and kempferol glycosides.

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