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. 2017 Nov;54(12):3779-3790.
doi: 10.1007/s13197-017-2718-1. Epub 2017 Oct 4.

Microwave-assisted extraction of Nigella sativa L. essential oil and evaluation of its antioxidant activity

Abdol-Samad Abedi  1 , Marjan Rismanchi  1 , Mehrnoush Shahdoostkhany  1 , Abdorreza Mohammadi  1 , Amir Mohammad Mortazavian  1
Affiliations

Microwave-assisted extraction of Nigella sativa L. essential oil and evaluation of its antioxidant activity

Abdol-Samad Abedi et al. J Food Sci Technol. 2017 Nov.

Abstract

It has been previously reported that the essential oil of Nigella sativa L. seeds and its major active component, thymoquinone (TQ), possess a broad variety of biological activities and therapeutic properties. In this work, microwave-assisted extraction (MAE) of the essential oil from Nigella sativa L. seeds and its antioxidant activity were studied. Response surface methodology based on central composite design was used to evaluate the effects of extraction time, irradiation power and moisture content on extraction yield and TQ content. Optimal parameters obtained by CCD and RSM were extraction time 30 min, irradiation power 450 W, and moisture content 50%. The extraction yield and TQ content of the essential oil were 0.33 and 20% under the optimum conditions, respectively. In contrast, extraction yield and TQ amount of oil obtained by hydrodistillation (HD) were 0.23 and 3.71%, respectively. The main constituents of the essential oil extracted by MAE and HD were p-cymene, TQ, α-thujene and longifolene, comprising more than 60% of total peak area. The antioxidant capacity of essential oils extracted by different methods were evaluated using 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl and Ferric reducing antioxidant power assays, and compared with traditional antioxidants. The results showed that MAE method was a viable alternative to HD for the essential oil extraction from N. sativa seeds due to the excellent extraction efficiency, higher thymoquinone content, and stronger antioxidant activity.

Keywords: Antioxidant activity; Essential oil; Microwave-assisted extraction; Nigella sativa L.; Response surface methodology.

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Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Schematic diagram of microwave-assisted extraction
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Response surface modeling of extraction yields and thymoquinone recoveries versus the affecting parameters in microwave-assisted extraction: a Effect of varying extraction time and irradiation power on yield extraction; b effect of varying extraction time and moisture content on yield extraction; c effect of varying extraction time and irradiation power on thymoquinone recovery; d effect of varying extraction time and moisture content on thymoquinone recovery
Fig. 3
Fig. 3
SEM images of N. sativa seeds: a without any treatment; b after treatment by HD; and c after treatment by MAE. The arrows indicate balloon shaped oil cells
Fig. 4
Fig. 4
Results of antioxidant activity. a Free radical scavenging activity. b Ferric reducing antioxidant power. MAE microwave-assisted extraction, HD hydrodistillation, VC ascorbic acid, VE α-tocopherol
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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