Analysis of glycolipids from black cumin (Nigella sativa L.), coriander (Coriandrum sativum L.) and niger (Guizotia abyssinica Cass.) oilseeds

Edible plant glycolipids (GL) are anticipated to play a role in human nutrition. Total glycolipids (TGL) were separated from black cumin (Nigella sativa L.), coriander (Coriandrum sativum L.) and niger (Guizotia abyssinica Cass.) seed oils by silica gel chromatography. Different GL subclasses were then identified and separated using high-performance liquid chromatography with ultraviolet adsorption (HPLC/UV). Separation was accomplished using Zorbax-Sil (5 μm) column with an isocratic elution by mixed solvents of isooctane/2-propanol (1:1, v/v) and detection at 206 nm. Methods are described for the analysis of GL constituents, sugar and sterols (ST), using gas–liquid chromatography equipped with flame ionization detector (GLC/FID). A relatively high level of TGL was found in all studied oilseeds. Six GL subclasses were detected in black cumin seed oil, wherein diglucosyldiacylglycerol (DGD) was the prevalent component, followed by glucocerebroside (CER). Among the TGL from coriander and niger oilseeds, acylated steryl glucoside (ASG), steryl glucoside (SG) and CER were detected. The fatty acid profiles of GL fractions from black cumin and niger seed oils was generally similar, wherein linoleic acid C18:2n-6 was the dominating fatty acid, followed by oleic acid C18:1n-9. Petroselinic acid C18:1n-12 was the fatty acid marker in GL subclasses obtained from coriander seed oil, followed by linoleic acid C18:2n-6. Four ST moieties were identified in black cumin and coriander SG and ASG fractions, while the fractions from niger oilseeds showed only three distinct ST peaks. As component sugar, glucose was the only sugar detected in all samples.