GAS CHROMATOGRAPHY - MASS SPECTROMETRY ANALYSIS OF THE ESSENTIAL OIL FROM NIGELLA SATIVA LINN. SEEDS

Abstract

Essential oil from Nigella sativa Linn. seeds was isolated and studied by Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GCMS).
Yield of essential oils was 0.32%, while the rest 98.54 % were other phytochemicals. About 21 peaks
corresponding to different compounds were identified in the Nigella sativa Linn. essential oil. Various compounds in the
essential oil were identified by comparing their mass spectra fragmentation pattern with those of the NIST library and
also with those of standard. The major components of the essential oil obtained were 13-octadecenoic acid, 9, 12
octadecadienoate (Z, Z), 2-Hydroxy-1-(hydroxymethyl) ethyl ester, 6-octadecenoic acid, and O-Cymene. Apart from
that, alpha phellandrene, Thymoquinone, alpha-pinene, D-Limonene, Terpinene, Glycerol-1-palmitate, Longifoline, 4-
methoxy thujane were also observed. Association of Official Analytical Chemists (AOAC) methods were followed in
performing the proximate analysis of Nigella sativa Linn. seeds. In the proximate analysis, the contents of ash (3.34%),
ethanol-soluble extractive (9.58%), water-soluble extractive (9.29%), loss on drying (4.66%) and, moisture (4.34%)
were determined. Due to the presence of various phytochemical compounds, it is concluded that Nigella sativa Linn.
seeds has a huge contribution in herbal drug manufacturing industries.