Abstract
Background Nigella sativa L (NS) is a powerful antioxidant and medicinal plant with many therapeutic applications particularly in traditional medicine for respiratory, gastrointestinal, rheumatic, and inflammatory disorders, as well as cancer. Objective The aim of this study is to extract the active ingredients from the Moroccan Nigella sativa L and determine its antioxidant properties. We hypothesize that the separation of the compounds from Nigella sativa L has either a positive or negative effect on antioxidants. To study this, we explored different methods to simultaneously extract and separate compounds from Nigella sativa L and performed antioxidant tests (β-carotene and DPPH) for all collected fractions. Methods Nigella sativa L was hot-extracted by Soxhlet and mother extracts and was separated using silica column chromatography with adequate eluents. Qualitative phytochemical tests to determine the chemical families in Nigella sativa L seeds were performed on the fractions. They were also identified and characterized by GC-MS and HPLC-DAD. Then, antioxidant activity was examined by β-carotene bleaching and DPPH radical scavenger tests. Results and Conclusion. The mother extract hexane FH generated eight different fractions (SH1-8) and the acetone extract FA generated 11 fractions (SA1-11). The FH fractions had a high percentage of fatty acids, and the FA fractions had some interesting polyphenols derivative compounds. Phytochemical screening revealed secondary metabolites such as polyphenols flavonoids, alkaloids, steroids, terpenes coumarins, tannins, and saponins. We found that only two solvents (hexane, acetone) of different polarities could easily extract and simultaneously separate the components of Nigella sativa L. The antioxidant fractions that we collected had close activity to reference compounds but were more active than the corresponding mother extracts. Moreover, several IC50 values of fractions from acetone extract were better than those from hexane. Therefore, the antioxidant activity of Nigella sativa L is more attributed to flavonoids and polyphenols than fatty acids. In summary, the separation of hexane extract presents a more pronounced positive effect for antioxidant tests than acetone extract.
Highlights
Artificial antioxidants such as butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT) and butylated hydroxyanisole (BHA) are commonly reported for their efficiency in delaying cell deterioration but are suspected to have negative health effects like carcinogenesis and toxicity [1]. erefore, replacement with natural antioxidants could reduce health risks
We focus on two essential mother extracts that may contain distinct groups of secondary metabolites
In the successive extraction of the Nigella sativa L seeds (NS), the yields of mother extracts (FH and FA) were calculated relative to the mass of the starting powdered seeds placed in the Soxhlet apparatus
Summary
Nigella sativa L (NS) is a powerful antioxidant and medicinal plant with many therapeutic applications in traditional medicine for respiratory, gastrointestinal, rheumatic, and inflammatory disorders, as well as cancer. We explored different methods to simultaneously extract and separate compounds from Nigella sativa L and performed antioxidant tests (β-carotene and DPPH) for all collected fractions. E mother extract hexane FH generated eight different fractions (SH1-8) and the acetone extract FA generated 11 fractions (SA1-11). We found that only two solvents (hexane, acetone) of different polarities could extract and simultaneously separate the components of Nigella sativa L. e antioxidant fractions that we collected had close activity to reference compounds but were more active than the corresponding mother extracts. Erefore, the antioxidant activity of Nigella sativa L is more attributed to flavonoids and polyphenols than fatty acids. The separation of hexane extract presents a more pronounced positive effect for antioxidant tests than acetone extract
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
