Determination of the component composition of <i>Nigella sativa </i>seeds
In this paper the component composition of the black cumin (Nigella sativa) seeds of four selection samples (NP-9, NCH-20, NF-15, NU-12) from the collection of the Central Botanical Garden of the National Academy of Sciences of Belarus was studied. It was found using the method of gas chromatography that linolic C18:2, oleic C18:1cis and palmitic C16:0 acids are prevail in the from the black cumin seeds. There are also caproic C6:0, caprylic C8:0, miristic C14:0, pentadecanoic C15:0, palmitoleic C16:1, stearic C18:0, elaidic C18:1trans, а-linolenic C18:3, arachic C20:0, gondoinic C20:1, and eicosodienoic C20:2 acids in these seeds in small number. The yield of the essential oils from the seeds of the black cumin was on the average 0.4%, and it was established that among the essential oils the monoterpene p-cymene (64.90%) is predominated, а-thujene, a-pinene, р-pinene, sabinene, limonene, eucalyptol, у-terpene and linalool were also detected. The mineral composition was the following (on the average): potassium -9.87%, magnesium - 14.39%, calcium - 37.86%, sodium - 0.25% and iron - 0.12%. The moisture content of the study samples seeds ranged from 5.03 to 5.40%.