International Journal of Innovative Approaches in Agricultural Research
Abbreviation: IJIAAR | ISSN (Online): 2602-4772 | DOI: 10.29329/ijiaar

Research article    |    Open Access
International Journal of Innovative Approaches in Agricultural Research 2025, Vol. 9(4) 326-337

From Global Origins to Local Fields: First Comprehensive Profiling of Nigella sativa L. Nutritional and Fatty Acid Composition in Albanian Agroecological Conditions

Jonida Biturku, Erta Dodana, Gökhan Büyük, Ceren Ayse Bayram, Adrian Maho

pp. 326 - 337   |  DOI: https://doi.org/10.29329/ijiaar.2025.1375.5

Publish Date: December 17, 2025  |   Single/Total View: 0/0   |   Single/Total Download: 0/0


Abstract

Nigella sativa L. (black cumin) is a widely used medicinal and nutritional crop, yet its chemical characteristics under Albanian agroecological conditions remain unexplored. This study provides the first assessment of the fatty acid profile and macronutrient composition of N. sativa L. varieties cultivated in Tirana, with the aim of supporting breeding efforts, functional food development, and crop diversification. Eight varieties originating from different countries were grown at the Experimental Didactic Field of the Agricultural University of Tirana. Mature seeds were analyzed for fatty acids following derivatization to FAMEs using GCMS-QP2010 Ultra, while macronutrient concentrations (Na, K, Ca, Mg, P) were quantified using ICP-MS. The varieties exhibited significant inter-varietal variability. T7 showed the highest monounsaturated fatty acids (21.9%) and calcium concentration (2,012.31 mg kg⁻¹). T8 recorded the highest saturated fatty acids (17.2%) and sodium level (128.58 mg kg⁻¹), whereas T4 had the highest polyunsaturated fatty acids (63.0%). For minerals, T3 contained the greatest potassium (11,450.19 mg kg⁻¹) and magnesium (2,904.45 mg kg⁻¹), while T5 had the highest phosphorus content (9,309.01 mg kg⁻¹). These results highlight substantial nutritional diversity within N. sativa L. grown under Tirana conditions, identifying promising genotypes with superior fatty acid and mineral profiles. Such genotypes have strong potential for use in functional foods, nutraceutical production, and sustainable agricultural development.

Keywords: Nigella Sativa, Fatty Acid Composition, Macronutrients, Albania, Crop Diversification, Nutritional Quality, Functional Foods, Sustainable Agriculture


How to Cite this Article?

APA 7th edition
Biturku, J., Dodana, E., Buyuk, G., Bayram, C.A., & Maho, A. (2025). From Global Origins to Local Fields: First Comprehensive Profiling of Nigella sativa L. Nutritional and Fatty Acid Composition in Albanian Agroecological Conditions. International Journal of Innovative Approaches in Agricultural Research, 9(4), 326-337. https://doi.org/10.29329/ijiaar.2025.1375.5

Harvard
Biturku, J., Dodana, E., Buyuk, G., Bayram, C. and Maho, A. (2025). From Global Origins to Local Fields: First Comprehensive Profiling of Nigella sativa L. Nutritional and Fatty Acid Composition in Albanian Agroecological Conditions. International Journal of Innovative Approaches in Agricultural Research, 9(4), pp. 326-337.

Chicago 16th edition
Biturku, Jonida, Erta Dodana, Gokhan Buyuk, Ceren Ayse Bayram and Adrian Maho (2025). "From Global Origins to Local Fields: First Comprehensive Profiling of Nigella sativa L. Nutritional and Fatty Acid Composition in Albanian Agroecological Conditions". International Journal of Innovative Approaches in Agricultural Research 9 (4):326-337. https://doi.org/10.29329/ijiaar.2025.1375.5

References
  1. Ahmad, A. a. (2013). A review on therapeutic potential of Nigella sativa: A miracle herb. Asian Pacific journal of tropical biomedicine, 337--352. [Google Scholar]
  2. Altieri, M. A. (1995). Agroecology: the science of sustainable agriculture. [Google Scholar]
  3. Altieri, M. A. (2018). Agroecology: the science of sustainable agriculture. CrC press. [Google Scholar]
  4. Atta, M. B. (2003). Some characteristics of nigella (Nigella sativa L.) seed cultivated in Egypt and its lipid profile. Food chemistry, 83, 63--68. [Google Scholar]
  5. Capacci, S. a.-C.-K. (2012). Policies to promote healthy eating in Europe: a structured review of policies and their effectiveness. Nutrition reviews, 188--200. [Google Scholar]
  6. Cheikh-Rouhou, S. a. (n.d.). Nigella sativa L.: Chemical composition and physicochemical characteristics of lipid fraction. Food chemistry, 101, 673--681. [Google Scholar]
  7. Fao, F. a. (2018). Food and agriculture organization of the United Nations. Rome, URL: http://faostat. fao. org, 403. [Google Scholar]
  8. Gliessman, S. R. (2022). Agroecology: Leading the transformation to a just and sustainable food system. CRC Press. [Google Scholar]
  9. Hannan, M. A. (2021). Black cumin (Nigella sativa L.): A comprehensive review on phytochemistry, health benefits, molecular pharmacology, and safety. Nutrients, 13, 1784. [Google Scholar]
  10. Haque, M. a. (2022). Nigella sativa: A promise for industrial and agricultural economic growth. In Black seeds (Nigella sativa) (pp. 439--460). [Google Scholar]
  11. Hertel, T. W. (2011). The global supply and demand for agricultural land in 2050: a perfect storm in the making? American journal of agricultural Economics, 259--275. [Google Scholar]
  12. Hoenig, M. a. (1998). Critical discussion on the need for an efficient mineralization procedure for the analysis of plant material by atomic spectrometric methods. Analytica Chimica Acta, 85--94. [Google Scholar]
  13. Hufnagel, J. a. (2020). Diverse approaches to crop diversification in agricultural research. A review. Agronomy for Sustainable Development, 14. [Google Scholar]
  14. ISO. (2014). Animal and vegetable fats and oils – Gas chromatography of fatty acid methyl esters – Part 1: Guidelines on modern gas chromatography of fatty acid methyl esters. Geneva: International Organization for Standardization. [Google Scholar]
  15. Jonida Biturku, E. D. (2024). Assessing the Influence of Tirana's Agro-Ecological Conditions on the Nutritional Profile of Black Cumin (Nigella sativa. International Conference on Agricultural, (p. 671). (Istanbul, Turkey. [Google Scholar]
  16. Kiralan, M. a. (2017). Blends of cold pressed black cumin oil and sunflower oil with improved stability: A study based on changes in the levels of volatiles, tocopherols and thymoquinone during accelerated oxidation conditions. Journal of Food Biochemistry, e12272. [Google Scholar]
  17. Lampietti, J. a. (2009). The changing face of rural space: agriculture and rural development in the Western Balkans. World Bank Publications. [Google Scholar]
  18. Le, P. M.-A. (2004). The petroleum ether extract of Nigella sativa exerts lipid-lowering and insulin-sensitizing actions in the rat. Journal of ethnopharmacology, 251--259. [Google Scholar]
  19. Paquot, C. a. (1987). Standard methods for the analysis of oils, fats and derivatives. Analytica Chimica Acta, 373. [Google Scholar]
  20. Ramadan, M. F. (2007). Nutritional value, functional properties and nutraceutical applications of black cumin (Nigella sativa L.): an overview. International journal of food science \& technology, 1208--1218. [Google Scholar]
  21. Shumka, L. a. (2023). The potentials for the ecological management of landscape connectivity including aquatic ecosystems in Northeast Albania. Hydrobiology, 44--54. [Google Scholar]
  22. Shumka, S. a. (2022). Assessing the relationship between biodiversity conservation and slow food culture in selected protected areas in Albania. Biodiversitas Journal of Biological Diversity. [Google Scholar]
  23. Telci, I. a. (2023). Studies on black cumin genotypes of Turkiye: Agronomy, seed and thymoquinone yields. Journal of Applied Research on Medicinal and Aromatic Plants, 100494. [Google Scholar]
  24. Tembhurne, S. a. (2014). A review on therapeutic potential of Nigella sativa (kalonji) seeds. J Med Plants Res, 167--177. [Google Scholar]
  25. Thompson, G. D. (1998). Consumer demand for organic foods: what we know and what we need to know. American Journal of Agricultural Economics, 1113--1118. [Google Scholar]
  26. Thompson, M. a. (2002). Harmonized guidelines for single-laboratory validation of methods of analysis (IUPAC Technical Report. Pure and applied chemistry, 835--855. [Google Scholar]
  27. Yimer, E. M.-R. (2019). Nigella sativa L.(black cumin): a promising natural remedy for wide range of illnesses. Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine, 1528635. [Google Scholar]
  28. Zielinska, M. a.-S. (2021). The role of bioactive compounds of Nigella sativa in rheumatoid arthritis therapy—current reports. Nutrients, 13, 3369. [Google Scholar]
  29. Zolekar, R. B. (2015). Multi-criteria land suitability analysis for agriculture in hilly zone: Remote sensing and GIS approach. Computers and Electronics in Agriculture, 300--321. [Google Scholar]