Antioxidant activity of Nigella sativa essential oil

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Abstract
The essential oil of black cumin seeds, Nigella sativa L., was tested for a possible antioxidant activity. A rapid evaluation for antioxidants, using two TLC screening methods, showed that thymoquinone and the components carvacrol, t‐anethole and 4‐terpineol demonstrated respectable radical scavenging property. These four constituents and the essential oil possessed variable antioxidant activity when tested in the diphenylpicrylhydracyl assay for non‐specific hydrogen atom or electron donating activity. They were also effective ·OH radical scavenging agents in the assay for non‐enzymatic lipid peroxidation in liposomes and the deoxyribose degradation assay. GC‐MS analysis of the essential oil obtained from six different samples of Nigella sativa seeds and from a commercial fixed oil showed that the qualitative composition of the volatile compounds was almost identical. Differences were mainly restricted to the quantitative composition. Copyright © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.