Institute of Nutritional and Food Sciences, Food Sciences, University of Bonn, Meckenheimer Allee 166a, 53115 Bonn, Germany.
Institute of Forensic Medicine, University of Freiburg, Albertstr. 9, 79104 Freiburg, Germany.
Nutrients. 2022 Aug 25;14(17):3501. doi: 10.3390/nu14173501.
(1) Background: Thymoquinone (TQ) is the leading compound accounting for the pharmacological effects of Nigella sativa seed oil, also known as black seed oil. This study aimed to analyze the TQ content of commercial black seed oils and black seed oil-containing capsules to obtain information on the quality of the products and to find a promising and safe study medication for a putative clinical study. (2) Methods: Six black seed oils and five black seed oil-containing capsules were analyzed. TQ was quantified using a validated method consisting of a simple methanolic extraction and a fast HPLC-UV analysis. (3) Results: The TQ content varied from 3.08 to 809.4 mg/100 g (mean). The highest TQ content was found in a bottled oil, which might be considered for a clinical study. A dose of 4 mL of this oil per day contains 30 mg TQ, which is unlikely to be harmful. Based on the literature, a safe daily TQ dosage appears to be <48.6 mg per adult. (4) Conclusions: These findings suggest that black seed products should be regulated regarding TQ content to enable consumers to buy black seed food supplements of known content for the maintenance and improvement of health.
(1) 背景：百里香醌（TQ）是黑种草籽油（也称为黑种草子油）发挥药理作用的主要化合物。本研究旨在分析商业黑种草籽油和含黑种草籽油的胶囊中的 TQ 含量，以了解产品的质量，并为可能的临床研究找到一种有前途且安全的研究药物。
(2) 方法：分析了 6 种黑种草籽油和 5 种含黑种草籽油的胶囊。采用一种经过验证的方法对 TQ 进行定量，该方法包括简单的甲醇提取和快速 HPLC-UV 分析。
(3) 结果：TQ 含量从 3.08 至 809.4 mg/100 g（平均值）不等。瓶装油中 TQ 含量最高，可能适合进行临床研究。每天服用 4 毫升这种油，含有 30 毫克 TQ，不太可能有害。根据文献，成年人每天摄入 TQ 的安全剂量似乎<48.6 mg。
(4) 结论：这些发现表明，应规范黑种草产品的 TQ 含量，使消费者能够购买已知含量的黑种草食品补充剂，以维持和改善健康。
