Characterization of secondary volatile profiles in Nigella sativa seeds from two different origins using accelerated solvent extraction and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry.

The extraction and identification of bioactive compounds from herbs is of great interest. In this study, accelerated solvent extraction (ASE) technique was used to analyze the secondary volatile profiles in Nigella sativa seeds obtained from two different origins, Egypt and Bangladesh. The main extraction parameters, including extraction temperature, pressure and static extraction time, were investigated and optimized. Identification and quantification of the major constituents in nonpolar extracts (hexane) were achieved by means of GC-FID/GC-MS analysis with external standards. The two seeds showed a similar variety of chemical composition; however, the secondary volatiles profile of Bangladesh seed was higher than that of the Egyptian seed. A total of 25 compounds were identified from the ASE extract under the following optimum extraction conditions: 100°C, 1500 psi and 5 min, for extraction temperature, pressure and static time, respectively. The proposed technique can be used for the characterization of N. sativa varieties or cultivars.