triglucoside, sesaminol monoglucoside, pinoresinol monoglucoside, and two isomers of pinoresinol diglucoside and sesaminol diglucoside (Hemalatha 2004;
Moazzami et al. 2006).
Lignans like sesamin and sesamolin exhibit antihypertensive, anticancerous, and
hypocholesterolemic activities especially in humans and, thus, have become compounds of tremendous research interest in recent times. Moazzami et al. (2007)
studied the total lignan content in 14 different sesame seeds and observed it to be
ranging between 405 and 1178 mg/100 g of the seed. The major lignin observed in
the present study was sesamin (167–804 mg/100 g seeds) followed by sesamolin
(48–279 mg/100 g seeds) and sesaminol (32–298 mg/100 g seeds), while
sesamolinol was found in much lower concentrations (58 mg/100 g seeds).
Shi et al. (2017) studied the concentration of lignans (sesamol, sesamin,
sesamolin) in 100 sesame seeds and 56 sesame oils and reported total lignan content
to be ranging between 2.52 to 12.76 mg/g and 3.38 to 11.53 mg/g, respectively.
Additionally, it was also observed by the authors that color and processing affect the
lignan content. Black sesame seeds had higher sesamin content (1.98–9.41 mg/g)
than yellow, brown, and white sesame, seeds and hot-pressed and small mill sesame
oils showed higher amounts of sesamol, sesamin, and total lignans as compared to
cold-pressed and refined oil samples.
Ide et al. (2015) and Chu and Liu (2005) reported that sesame seed rich in lignan
content more profoundly affects hepatic fatty acid oxidation and serum
triacylglycerol level and possibly attenuates oxidative stress. These components
not only help in lowering blood lipids (Hirata et al. 1996), arachidonic acid levels
(Shimizu et al. 1991), and cholesterol levels by inhibiting absorption and synthesis
of cholesterol (Hirose et al. 1991) but also possess anti-inflammatory (Hsu et al.
2005) and immunomodulatory activities (Nonaka et al. 1997) and, hence, promote
health.
12.6.3 Tocopherols
Tocopherols belong to a class of plant phenolics and being a source of vitamin E not
only possess nutritional potential but also prevent oxidation of oil, act as scavengers
of free radicals, have strong antioxidant activity, and can prevent from lung and oral
cancer, Alzheimer’s disease, and diseases related to the nervous system (BrigeliusFlohe and Traber 1999; Brigelius-Flohé et al. 2002; Pasias et al. 2018). Various
studies report that sesame seeds are a prominent source of γ-tocopherol
(468.5–517.9 mg/kg lipid), while α- and δ-tocopherols are present in low amounts
(Saldeen et al. 1999; Yoshida et al. 2007). Williamson et al. (2008) analyzed
11 genotypes of sesame seeds (US collection) and observed α-, δ-, and
γ-tocopherols ranging between 0.034 and 0.175 μg/g, 0.44 and 3.05 μg/g, and
56.9 and 99.3 μg/g, respectively. Recently, Hajimahmoodi et al. (2010) reported
563–1095 mg/kg and 293–569 mg/kg of γ-tocopherol in sesame oil and seed,
respectively. γ-Tocopherol is the most potent free-radical remover among the
314
L. Sharma et al.
Moazzami et al. 2006).
Lignans like sesamin and sesamolin exhibit antihypertensive, anticancerous, and
hypocholesterolemic activities especially in humans and, thus, have become compounds of tremendous research interest in recent times. Moazzami et al. (2007)
studied the total lignan content in 14 different sesame seeds and observed it to be
ranging between 405 and 1178 mg/100 g of the seed. The major lignin observed in
the present study was sesamin (167–804 mg/100 g seeds) followed by sesamolin
(48–279 mg/100 g seeds) and sesaminol (32–298 mg/100 g seeds), while
sesamolinol was found in much lower concentrations (58 mg/100 g seeds).
Shi et al. (2017) studied the concentration of lignans (sesamol, sesamin,
sesamolin) in 100 sesame seeds and 56 sesame oils and reported total lignan content
to be ranging between 2.52 to 12.76 mg/g and 3.38 to 11.53 mg/g, respectively.
Additionally, it was also observed by the authors that color and processing affect the
lignan content. Black sesame seeds had higher sesamin content (1.98–9.41 mg/g)
than yellow, brown, and white sesame, seeds and hot-pressed and small mill sesame
oils showed higher amounts of sesamol, sesamin, and total lignans as compared to
cold-pressed and refined oil samples.
Ide et al. (2015) and Chu and Liu (2005) reported that sesame seed rich in lignan
content more profoundly affects hepatic fatty acid oxidation and serum
triacylglycerol level and possibly attenuates oxidative stress. These components
not only help in lowering blood lipids (Hirata et al. 1996), arachidonic acid levels
(Shimizu et al. 1991), and cholesterol levels by inhibiting absorption and synthesis
of cholesterol (Hirose et al. 1991) but also possess anti-inflammatory (Hsu et al.
2005) and immunomodulatory activities (Nonaka et al. 1997) and, hence, promote
health.
12.6.3 Tocopherols
Tocopherols belong to a class of plant phenolics and being a source of vitamin E not
only possess nutritional potential but also prevent oxidation of oil, act as scavengers
of free radicals, have strong antioxidant activity, and can prevent from lung and oral
cancer, Alzheimer’s disease, and diseases related to the nervous system (BrigeliusFlohe and Traber 1999; Brigelius-Flohé et al. 2002; Pasias et al. 2018). Various
studies report that sesame seeds are a prominent source of γ-tocopherol
(468.5–517.9 mg/kg lipid), while α- and δ-tocopherols are present in low amounts
(Saldeen et al. 1999; Yoshida et al. 2007). Williamson et al. (2008) analyzed
11 genotypes of sesame seeds (US collection) and observed α-, δ-, and
γ-tocopherols ranging between 0.034 and 0.175 μg/g, 0.44 and 3.05 μg/g, and
56.9 and 99.3 μg/g, respectively. Recently, Hajimahmoodi et al. (2010) reported
563–1095 mg/kg and 293–569 mg/kg of γ-tocopherol in sesame oil and seed,
respectively. γ-Tocopherol is the most potent free-radical remover among the
314
L. Sharma et al.