Constituents of Nigella sativa oil and evaluation of its inhibitory effect on growth and aflatoxin production by Aspergillus parasiticus

Abstract

Nigella sativa and its oil are used in Egypt in folk medicine. The fatty acid methyl esters and sterols isolated from the oil were studied by using gas liquid chromatogrophy. The fatty acids were identified as myristic, palmitic, Palmitoleic, stearic, oleic, linoleic, linoenic, eicosenoic and eicosadienoic acids. The study of the sterol fraction revealed the presence of campesterol, stigmasterol, beta-sitosterol and isofucosterol. The oil of N. sativa promoted mycelial growth of Aspergillus parasiticus which was grown in yeast extract sucrose (YES) media. Aflatoxins accumulation was inhibited gradually with increasing the concentration of N. saliva oil. The inhibitory effect of N. sativa oil was greatest at the lowest level of sucrose than the highest levels used in YES media.