Author(s):

Mofio BM, Okwute SK and Abdullahi GL

Abstract: Nigella sativa is a traditional medicinal plant used to manage a number of ailments by many communities in the world, and is native to Asia, Europe, but grown in some parts of Africa, particularly in North East Nigeria where it is used as a dietary supplement. In this study a sample of the seed from North East Nigeria was powdered and extracted with methanol to give the crude extract which was fractionated into hexane, chloroform and methanol solubles. Phytochemical screening of the crude methanol extract showed the presence of the following classes of natural products: alkaloids, tannins, flavonoids, steroids and terpenoids. The proximate analysis of the seed gave 12.00% moisture, 3.00% ash content, 33.30% ether soluble extract, 29.3% crude protein content, 7.2% total carbohydrate, 5.33% crude fibre and 43.30% crude lipids. The seed also had a calorific value of 7203.44 kcal per 100g. The mineral elements determination gave the following composition: Calcium=2.052ppm, Magnesium=0.313ppm, Potassium=498.50ppm, Iron=0.080ppm and Sodium=494.40ppm. The oral N. sativa L. seeds treatment decreased the diabetes-induced disturbances of hyper-cholesterolemia, hyperglycaemia and some haematological parameters of alloxan-induced diabetic rats. Given the significant content of fatty acids in the seed, and their known potential applications as antitumor, anti-diabetic and anti-inflammatory agents, the hexane-soluble fraction was subjected to column chromatographic separation to obtain 3 compounds which on spectral characterization led to the identification of octadecadienoic acid, tetradeca-5,9-dien-7,8-dipropionate and tricosane-4,6-dien-12-one. These compounds appear to be new to the plant and may account for some of the traditional medicinal uses of the seed oil, including management of diabetes, hypertension and inflammation.

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