similar to other studies. Nigella sample collected from Saudi Arabia was evaluated
for proximate composition and reported to contain lower level of protein (20.9%),
high levels of oil (38.2%), carbohydrate (31.9%), crude fiber (7.9%), and ash content
(4.4%). Overall, Nigella seed contains carbohydrate (39%) followed by protein
(24%), fat (21.6%), fiber (5.5%), and ash content (4.3%) (Javed et al. 2012). Several
Nigella seed samples were collected from few dominantly Nigella-producing countries and evaluated for proximate composition (Takruri and Dameh 1998), in which
it was found that protein content varied between 19.9 and 24.4%, while oil, protein,
ash, and crude fiber content was found between 39.7 and 42.5%, 19.9 and 22.5%, 4.2
and 4.8%, and 7.3 and 12.9%, respectively. A very high level of fat content (41%)
and low content of total carbohydrate (17%) have been reported by Singh et al.
(2014) in Nigella seeds grown in India.
Dietary fiber is also considered as biological active compounds due to their
numerous health benefits. These are classified into three groups including total
dietary fiber, soluble dietary fiber, and insoluble dietary fibers. Although most of
the studies carried out on Nigella seed reported only crude fiber, nevertheless limited
studies reported dietary fiber. It has been reported that total dietary fiber (TDF),
soluble dietary fiber (SDF), and insoluble dietary fiber (IDF) varied between 6.5 and
8.9%, 20.56 and 27.1%, and 26.5 and 36.8%, respectively, among Nigella seeds
collected from different regions of Yemen (Al-Naqeep et al. 2009) (Table 13.1).
Nigella seeds are also known as a good source of micronutrients including
minerals and water-soluble vitamins. Nigella seed contains K (708–783 mg/kg),
Mg (235–260 mg/kg), Ca (564–572 mg/kg), P (48.9–51.9 mg/kg), Fe
(98.65–9.42 mg/kg), Zn (7–8.0 mg/kg), and Cu (1.48–1.65 mg/kg) (Cheikh-Rouhou
et al. 2007) (Table 13.2). On the other hand, Al-Jassir (1992) reported the highest
content of K (76 mg/kg) followed by P (18 mg/kg), Na (7.5 mg/kg), Fe (1.5 mg/kg),
Zn (0.6 mg/kg), Ca (0.4 mg/kg), Mg (0.3 mg/kg), Mn (0.20 mg/kg), and Cu
(0.20 mg/kg). Amin and Hosseinzadeh (2016) reported a wide range of minerals
in Nigella seeds (3.7–7.0%). On the contrary, Ermumcu and Şanlıer (2017) observed
a very narrow range of the same (1.76–3.44%). However, a study carried out by
Babayan et al. (1978) on Nigella seed reported very high content of calcium
(0.5–1.0%), phosphorus (0.6%), and potassium (0.6%) and low content of Na
(0.1%).
Mineral profiling of Nigella seeds collected from different parts of Yemen
exhibited a wide range of minerals including Fe (8.6–56.6 mg/100 g), Ca
(544–811 mg/100 g), Mg (219–260 mg/100 g), Na (44–80 mg/100 g), K
(447–563 mg/100 g), P (54–77 mg/100 g), Cu (1.30–1.6 mg/100 g), and Zn
(1.84–2.5 mg/100 g) (Naqeep et al. 2009). Siong et al. (1989) reported Cu
(1.8 mg/100 g), Fe (10.5 mg/100 g), zinc (6.0 mg/100 g), P (52.7 mg/100 g), and
Ca content (186 mg/100 g). Mineral content of Nigella seeds also depends upon
several factors including agricultural practices, soil composition, and on the method
used for mineral quantification.
Nigella seed also contains water and fat-soluble vitamins. Among water-soluble
vitamins, thiamin, niacin, folic acid, and pyridoxine were found abundantly, while a
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P. Sharma and T. Longvah
for proximate composition and reported to contain lower level of protein (20.9%),
high levels of oil (38.2%), carbohydrate (31.9%), crude fiber (7.9%), and ash content
(4.4%). Overall, Nigella seed contains carbohydrate (39%) followed by protein
(24%), fat (21.6%), fiber (5.5%), and ash content (4.3%) (Javed et al. 2012). Several
Nigella seed samples were collected from few dominantly Nigella-producing countries and evaluated for proximate composition (Takruri and Dameh 1998), in which
it was found that protein content varied between 19.9 and 24.4%, while oil, protein,
ash, and crude fiber content was found between 39.7 and 42.5%, 19.9 and 22.5%, 4.2
and 4.8%, and 7.3 and 12.9%, respectively. A very high level of fat content (41%)
and low content of total carbohydrate (17%) have been reported by Singh et al.
(2014) in Nigella seeds grown in India.
Dietary fiber is also considered as biological active compounds due to their
numerous health benefits. These are classified into three groups including total
dietary fiber, soluble dietary fiber, and insoluble dietary fibers. Although most of
the studies carried out on Nigella seed reported only crude fiber, nevertheless limited
studies reported dietary fiber. It has been reported that total dietary fiber (TDF),
soluble dietary fiber (SDF), and insoluble dietary fiber (IDF) varied between 6.5 and
8.9%, 20.56 and 27.1%, and 26.5 and 36.8%, respectively, among Nigella seeds
collected from different regions of Yemen (Al-Naqeep et al. 2009) (Table 13.1).
Nigella seeds are also known as a good source of micronutrients including
minerals and water-soluble vitamins. Nigella seed contains K (708–783 mg/kg),
Mg (235–260 mg/kg), Ca (564–572 mg/kg), P (48.9–51.9 mg/kg), Fe
(98.65–9.42 mg/kg), Zn (7–8.0 mg/kg), and Cu (1.48–1.65 mg/kg) (Cheikh-Rouhou
et al. 2007) (Table 13.2). On the other hand, Al-Jassir (1992) reported the highest
content of K (76 mg/kg) followed by P (18 mg/kg), Na (7.5 mg/kg), Fe (1.5 mg/kg),
Zn (0.6 mg/kg), Ca (0.4 mg/kg), Mg (0.3 mg/kg), Mn (0.20 mg/kg), and Cu
(0.20 mg/kg). Amin and Hosseinzadeh (2016) reported a wide range of minerals
in Nigella seeds (3.7–7.0%). On the contrary, Ermumcu and Şanlıer (2017) observed
a very narrow range of the same (1.76–3.44%). However, a study carried out by
Babayan et al. (1978) on Nigella seed reported very high content of calcium
(0.5–1.0%), phosphorus (0.6%), and potassium (0.6%) and low content of Na
(0.1%).
Mineral profiling of Nigella seeds collected from different parts of Yemen
exhibited a wide range of minerals including Fe (8.6–56.6 mg/100 g), Ca
(544–811 mg/100 g), Mg (219–260 mg/100 g), Na (44–80 mg/100 g), K
(447–563 mg/100 g), P (54–77 mg/100 g), Cu (1.30–1.6 mg/100 g), and Zn
(1.84–2.5 mg/100 g) (Naqeep et al. 2009). Siong et al. (1989) reported Cu
(1.8 mg/100 g), Fe (10.5 mg/100 g), zinc (6.0 mg/100 g), P (52.7 mg/100 g), and
Ca content (186 mg/100 g). Mineral content of Nigella seeds also depends upon
several factors including agricultural practices, soil composition, and on the method
used for mineral quantification.
Nigella seed also contains water and fat-soluble vitamins. Among water-soluble
vitamins, thiamin, niacin, folic acid, and pyridoxine were found abundantly, while a
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P. Sharma and T. Longvah