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 C<sub>18:2</sub>, oleic C<sub>18:1cis</sub> and palmitic C<sub>16:0</sub> acids are prevail in the from the black cumin seeds. There are also caproic C<sub>6:0</sub>, caprylic C<sub>8:0</sub>, miristic C<sub>14:0</sub>, pentadecanoic C<sub>15:0</sub>, palmitoleic C<sub>16:1</sub>, stearic C<sub>18:0</sub>, elaidic C<sub>18:1trans</sub>, а-linolenic C<sub>18:3</sub>, arachic C<sub>20:0</sub>, gondoinic C<sub>20:1</sub>, and eicosodienoic C<sub>20:2</sub> 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%.