Chemical composition and physicochemical characteristics of fixed oils from Algerian Nigella sativa seeds

The fatty acids, sterols, and polyphenols from the fixed oils of Nigella sativa seeds originating from four locations were determined. The seeds contained respectively 30.63–34.27% and 25.66–32.77% of fixed oils using hexane and isopropyl alcohol in solvent extraction. Linoleic, oleic, and palmitic acids formed the main proportion using the two solvents, respectively: hexane 54.47–61.28%, isopropanol 56.98–67.30%; hexane 19.62–22.94%, isopropanol 18.85–21.96%, and hexane 11.17–13.60%, isopropanol 9.20–14.18%. Other minor unsaturated fatty acids were identified. Eight phytosterols were isolated and identified in the fixed oils by GC and GC/MS analysis, wherein -sitosterol was the dominating compound that inhibits the absorption of dietary cholesterol, followed by stigmasterol, campesterol, and 5-avenasterol