Current Status and Prospects of Quality Evaluation in Sesame

Sesame (Sesamum indicum L.) is probably the most ancient oilseed crop known in the world. Sesame seed is known for its high nutritional value and for having oil (51%) and protein (20%) content. The fatty acid composition of sesame oil is palmitic acid (7.8%), stearic acid (3.6%), oleic acid (45.3%), and linoleic acid (37.7%). Sesame oil is characterized by a very high oxidative stability compared with other vegetable oils. Two lignan-type compounds, sesamin and sesamolin, are the major constituents of sesame oil unsaponifiables. Sesamol (a sesamolin derivative) can be present in sesame seeds and oils in very small amount. Other lignans and sesamol are also present in sesame seeds and oils in very small amount as aglycones. Lipid oxidation activity was significantly lower in the sesamolin-fed rats, which suggests that sesamolin and its metabolites contribute to the antioxidative properties of sesame seeds and oil and support that sesame lignans reduce susceptibility to oxidative stress. Sesaminols strongly inhibit lipid peroxidation related to their ability to scavenge free radical. The sesame seed lignan act synergistically with vitamin I in rats fed a low $\alpha$-tocopherol diet and cause a marked increase in a u-tocopherol concentration in the blood and tissue of rats fed an $\alpha$-tocopherol containing diet with sesame seed or its lignan. The authors are reviewed and discussed for present status and prospects of quality evaluation and researched in sesame seeds to provide and refers the condensed informations on their quality.

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