Research Journal of Medicinal Plants1819-34552151-7924Science International10.3923/rjmp.2011.85.89KaskoosR.A. 1201151The present study was aimed to describe the fatty acid composition, stability and nutritional characteristics of black cumin oil from Iraq. It was obtained by solvent extraction from seeds of Nigella sativa L., locally known as Habbatus sauda. The oil is used throughout the world and is classified as Generally Regarded as Safe (GRAS). The chemical composition of the solvent extracted fixed oil of black cumin was determined by capillary GC/MS. Twenty-six fatty acids (95%) were identified in the oil. The major fatty acids of the oil were linoleic acid (42.76%), oleic acid (16.59%), palmitic acid (8.51%), eicosatrienoic acid (4.71%), eicosapentaenoic acid EPA (5.98%) and docosahexaenoic acid DHA (2.97%). DHA along with EPA in the diet improves learning ability and part of several health foods. Peroxidizability index calculated for the oil was 118.21% and unsaturated/saturated ratio was 5.27. High unsaturated fatty acid content signified it to offer considerable resistance to oxidative rancidity during storage and health benefits on use.]]>Al-Hader, A., M. Aqel and Z. Hasan,1993Nigella sativa seeds.]]>3196100Al-Naggar, T.B., M.P. Gomez-Serranillos, M.E. Carreto and A.M. Villar,2003Nigella sativa L. extracts.]]>886368AOAC.,199015th Edn.,pp: 69-88pp: 69-88Atta, M.B.,2003Nigella sativa L.) seed cultivated in Egypt and its lipid profile.]]>836368Burdock, G.A.,19971st Edn.,Burits, M. and F. Bucar,2000Nigella sativa essential oil.]]>14323328Horrocks, L.A. and Y.K. Yeo,199940211225Houghton, P.J., R. Zarka, B. de las Heras and J.R.S. Hoult,1995Nigella sativa and derived thymoquinone inhibit eicosanoid generation in leukocytes and membrane lipid peroxidation.]]>613336Kaskoos, R.A., S. Amin, M. Ali and S.R. Mir,2009Olea europaea drupes from Iraq.]]>3146150Khan, M.A.,1999Nigella sativa Linn.]]>71535Kritikar, K.R. and B.D. Basu,20001st Edn., Vol. 6,pp: 16-18pp: 16-18Morsi, N.M.,2000Nigella sativa on multiple antibiotics-resistant bacteria.]]>496374Nair, M.K.M., P. Vasudevan and K. Venkitanarayanan,2005Listeria monocytogenes.]]>16395398Nergiz, C. and S. Otles,1993Nigella sativa L. seeds.]]>48259261Nickavar, B., F. Mojab, K. Javidnia and M.A.R. Amoli,2003Nigella sativa L. from Iran.]]>58629631Ramadan, M.F. and J.T. Morsel,2003Nigella sative L.), coriander (Coriandrum sativum L.) and niger (Guizotia abyssinica cass.) oilseeds.]]>80197204Sekine, S., K. Kubo, T. Tadokoro and M. Saito,200741184190Song, J.H., K. Fujimoto and T. Miyazawa,200013030283033Worthen, D.R., O.A. Ghosheh and P.A. Crooks,1998in vitro anti-tumor activity of some crude and purified components of blackseed, Nigella sativa L.]]>1815271532Salem, M.L. and H.M. Shorab,2000In vivo acute depletion of CD8+ T cells upregulates the anti-viral activity of NK cells against murine cytomegalovirus.]]>22707718