Determination of composition of fatty acid profile of Ethiopian and Indian black cumin oil (Nigella sativa)

Abstract

Aiming at medicinal properties of Nigella sativa seeds, this study was performed to determine fatty acid profile of Indian and Ethiopian blackseed oil. Chemical composition (total fatty acid composition) of extracted fixed oil respect to two types of black cumin was investigated by using Gas Chromatography Mass Spectrometry. Evaluated fatty acid profiles of both types of oils show that black cumin oil is rich in polyunsaturated fatty acids where unsaturation is predominant rather than saturation. In Ethiopian fixed oil polyunsaturated fatty acid was 61.39g/100g total fatty acid, Monounsaturated fatty acid 20.94g/100g which is less comparatively and Saturated fatty acid was 14.66g/100g total fatty acid. The main polyunsaturated fatty acid was Linoleic acid (61.25g /100g of total fatty acids) in Ethiopian origin which is higher than that of Indian origin (50.24g/100g of total fatty acid) followed by Oleic acid (17.63g/100g), Palmitic acid (11.36g/100g), Cis-11Eicosenoic acid (3.04g/100g), Stearic acid (2.81g/100g), Meristic acid (0.2g/100g) and Arachidic acid (0.19g/100g) in Ethiopian black seed oil. Respect to Indian type, extracted fixed oil showed 19.09g/100g Oleic acid, 10.83g/100g Palmitic acid, 2.25g/100g Cis-11Eicosenoic acid and 2.47g/100g Stearic acid respectively. The oil was rich in polyunsaturated fatty acid which is more healthy and Ethiopian and Indian Nigella seeds or black cumin are good source of oil.