Chemical Composition and Standardization of Nigella sativa L. Herb

Black cumin herb (Nigella sativa L.) was identified and standardized by analyzing the chemical composition and developing methods for determination of the authenticity and flavonoid content as biologically active compounds. Three flavonoids, nicotiflorin (kaempferol 3-O-β-D-glucopyranoside), rutin, and nigelflavonoside G {3-O-β-D-[_-L-O-rhamnopyranosyl-(1→6)]-glucopyranoside-[(2→1)-O-β-D-glucopy- ranosyl-(2→1)-O-β-D-glucopyranosyl]-3,5,6,7,4′-pentahydroxy-3′-methoxyflavone}, which was described from N. sativa for the first time, were isolated using column chromatography. The chemical structures of the isolated compounds were determined using UV, PMR, and 13C NMR spectroscopy and mass spectrometry. Methods for qualitative analysis of N. sativa herb by TLC and spectrophotometry were proposed.