Sains Malaysiana 43(4)(2014): 535–542

Comparison of Physicochemical Analysis and Antioxidant Activities of Nigella sativa Seeds

and Oils from Yemen, Iran and Malaysia

(Perbandingan Analisis Fizikokimia dan Aktiviti Antioksidan dalam Biji dan Minyak

Nigella sativa dari Yemen, Iran dan Malaysia)

HASNAH HARON*, CHONG GRACE-LYNN & SUZANA SHAHAR

Nutritional Sciences Programme, School of Health Care, Faculty of Health Sciences

Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia Kuala Lumpur, Jalan Raja Muda Abdul Aziz

50300 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Received: 9 November 2011/Accepted: 31 July 2013

ABSTRACT

The study was aimed to analyze the physicochemical properties and antioxidant activities in five batches of seeds and oils of Nigella sativa, obtained from Malaysia, Iran and Yemen. Proximate analysis showed that the seeds contained 20.63-28.71% crude fat, 11.35-14.04% crude protein, 5.37-7.93% total moisture, 4.15-4.51% total ash contents and 48.69-57.18% total carbohydrate contents. Physicochemical analysis showed a refractive index of 1.4697-1.4730, specific gravity of 1.369-1.376 g/cm³, peroxide value of 3.33-21.33 meq O₂/kg, 184-220 mg/g in saponification number and unsaponifiable matter of 1.1-1.8% in the oil samples. The seeds showed high mineral content such as Ca (2242 mg/kg), K (6393 mg/kg) and Mg (2234 mg/kg). The oil sample from Kelantan, Malaysia contained the lowest saturated fatty acid (SFA) (1.42±0.29%) while Sudan, Yemen contained the highest content of polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) (65.13±5.45%). Monounsaturated fatty acid (MUFA) were found the highest (20.45±2.61%) in the seed samples originated from Iran. Seeds from Iran showed the highest antioxidant activity (IC₅₀ = 1.49 mg/mL) and total phenolic content (30.84 mg GAE/g) while oil sample from Sudan, Yemen has the highest antioxidant activity (IC₅₀ = 4.48 mg/mL). Seeds from Iran have the highest quality among the seed samples while oil samples from Kelantan, Malaysia was the best among the oil samples in terms of low SFA, high PUFA, MUFA and antioxidant activities.

Keywords: Antioxidants; Nigella sativa; oil; physicochemical; seeds

ABSTRAK

Kajian ini bertujuan menganalisis ciri fizikokimia dan aktiviti antioksidan dalam lima sampel biji dan minyak Nigella sativa yang diperoleh dari Malaysia, Iran dan Yemen. Analisis proksimat menunjukkan biji Nigella sativa mengandungi 20.63-28.71% lemak kasar, 11.35-14.04% protein kasar, 5.37-7.93% air, 4.15-4.51% jumlah abu dan 48.69-57.18% jumlah karbohidrat. Analisis fizikokimia menunjukkan indeks refraktif adalah sebanyak 1.4697-1.4730, spesifik graviti sebanyak 1.369-1.376 g/cm³, nilai peroksida sebanyak 3.33-21.33 meq O₂/kg, 184-220 mg/g dalam nombor saponifikasi dan jirim tidak disaponifikasi sebanyak 1.1-1.8% di dalam sampel minyak. Biji menunjukkan kandungan mineral yang tinggi iaitu Ca (2242 mg/kg), K (6393 mg/kg) dan Mg (2234 mg/kg). Sampel minyak dari Kelantan, Malaysia mengandungi asid lemak tepu (SFA) yang terendah (1.42±0.29%) sementara Sudan, Yemen mengandungi kandungan asid lemak poli tak tepu (PUFA) yang tertinggi (65.13±5.45%). Asid lemak mono tak tepu (MUFA) didapati paling tinggi (20.45±2.61%) di dalam sampel biji yang berasal dari Iran. Biji dari Iran menunjukkan aktiviti antioksidan (IC₅₀ = 1.49 mg/mL) dan jumlah kandungan fenolik (30.84 mg GAE/g) yang tertinggi sementara sampel minyak dari Sudan, Yemen mempunyai kandungan aktiviti antioksidan yang tertinggi (IC₅₀ = 4.48 mg/mL). Biji dari Iran mempunyai kualiti yang paling tinggi antara sampel biji yang lain sementara sampel minyak dari Kelantan, Malaysia adalah yang terbaik antara sampel minyak yang lain dari segi rendah SFA, tinggi PUFA, MUFA dan aktiviti antioksidan.

Kata kunci: Antioksidan; biji; fizikokimia; minyak; Nigella sativa

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*Corresponding author; email: hasnah@fsk.ukm.my