Extraction of Chemical Components from Nigella arvensis Seeds

Seeds of N. arvensis L. (Ranunculaceae) were purchased from a Berberian pharmacy in Northern Africa (Morocco). N. arvensis dried seeds (5.0 g) were milled in a blade grinder (0.2 mm mesh; Fritsch, Idar-Oberstein, Germany). The flour was extracted with 50 ml of hexane through ultrasound assisted maceration (20 min at 25°C), then filtered and centrifuged (3,000 rpm, 20 min). The residue was extracted with 50 ml of chloroform with the same procedure, was then re-extracted twice with 25 ml of the same solvent, for two times. All the supernatants were dried with rotary evaporator.