A fast, inexpensive, and ecological method based on liquid-liquid extraction principle has been developed for preparation of extract with high content of Nigella sativa (N. sativa) quinones. The gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) analysis showed that oil extraction using 70% ethanol for 6 h yielded extract containing 50% of thymoquinone (TQ) and 13% of thymohydroquinone (THQ).
Keywords:
Nigella sativa; quinones; crude oil; liquid-liquid extraction