Influence of Supercritical Carbon Dioxide Extraction Conditions on Extraction Yield and Composition of <i>Nigella sativa</i> L. Seed Oil—Modelling, Optimization and Extraction Kinetics regarding Fatty Acid and Thymoquinone Content

Abstract

Nigella sativa L. is cultivated in many regions and its seeds have found use in variety of foods, but also in traditional medicine due to high content of biologically active essential oils. In this work optimization of supercritical carbon dioxide extraction from N. sativa seeds was performed using response surface methodology to describe the influence of extraction conditions on oil yield. Kinetics of oil and thymoquinone extraction were analyzed as well. It was demonstrated that in order to collect thymoquinone-rich N. sativa oil fraction, appropriate for health-related applications, the extraction should be carried out at 40 °C and 10–15 MPa. Following application of higher pressure of 35 MPa enables effective extraction of remaining oil rich in polyunsaturated fatty acids suitable for use in food industry. Thymoquinone-dependent antibacterial activity of the N. sativa seed oil was observed against bacterial pathogens: Haemophilus influenzae, Staphylococcus haemolyticus, Staphylococcus epidermidis, Enterococcus faecalis and Escherichia coli.

Keywords

• <i>Nigella sativa</i>
• thymoquinone
• supercritical fluid extraction
• response surface methodology
• antibacterial activity