Effect of various extraction solvents on the bioactive compounds and antioxidant activity of Nigella saliva L. seeds

This study investigated the effects of four organic solvents on the extractable solids, metabolite, and antioxidant activity of Nigella sativa L. The outcome of the experiment demonstrated that the evaluated solvents were crucial in extracting the total solid, phytochemical composition, and antioxidant capacity of Nigella sativa L. The best extraction solvent was discovered to be methanol (50% v/v), which also had the highest extraction yield (2.300 ± 0.049%), thymoquinone (45.11%), and antioxidant activity (2.260 ± 0.032%). Therefore, methanol could be a better organic solvent to obtain the highest total extractable yield, thymoquinone metabolite, and antioxidant capacity from the seeds of Nigella sativa L. The results of the study can be beneficial for isolation of thymoquinone which is a pharmacologically active metabolite and further utilization in the field of nutraceuticals.