when compared with the control rats. Both these studies suggest that sesamin could
be used as a therapeutic approach in diabetes management.
Effects of sesame butter (1.25 g/kg) versus sesame oil (0.5 g/kg) (fed by oral
gavage to diabetic rats for 6 weeks) on the serum levels of glucose, lipid profile, and
oxidative stress biomarkers were examined, and significant reduction in the levels of
glucose and increased levels of high-density lipoprotein were reported. The authors
concluded that future intensive research on human diabetes should be undertaken to
determine the exact dose and duration of supplementation of sesame butter for
effective antihyperglycemic and partly lipid-reducing properties (Haidari et al.
2016). Bigoniya et al. (2012) observed that sesame meal-based products such as
sesame meal-supplemented bread, tahini (sesame paste), and halwa (confectionary)
were found suitable for diabetics as they contain less carbohydrate and high protein.
Aslam et al. (2018) investigated the impact of white sesame seed oil (WSSO)
consumption on fasting blood glucose (GLU), insulin (INS), glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c), and hepatic antioxidant enzymes in 46 participants with type 2 diabetes
at 0, 30, 60, and 90 days interval. The influence of WSSO on serum biochemistry,
hepatic, cardiac, and renal functions was also studied. A significant reduction
( p < 0.05) in GLU from mean 187.07 Æ 5.63 mg/dl at 0 day to
137.83 Æ 3.16 mg/dl at 90 day was observed in sesame oil-supplemented diabetic
group, whereas the diabetic control group was reported to have 218.13 Æ 5.92 mg/dl
fasting blood glucose level. Furthermore, at the end of the study period, the HbA1c
levels significantly reduced in the sesame oil-supplemented group when compared
with control. INS increased from mean 12.12 Æ 1.03 μU/ml at day 0 to
23.13 Æ 1.15 μU/ml when compared with control (7.93 Æ 0.38 μU/ml) at day 90.
Additionally, the activities of superoxide dismutase, catalase, and glutathione peroxidase increased significantly, whereas in the control group, their activities
decreased significantly ( p < 0.05). The authors concluded that the white sesame
seed oil can act as a functional food by improving the biomarkers of the liver,
cardiac, and renal functions which improved significantly and, thus, can be used in
diabetes management.
12.7.2 Hypertension
Owing to the rich content of polyunsaturated fatty acids, fiber, phytosterol, and
lignans, sesame consumption may offer protection against hypertension and associated diseases like cardiovascular diseases, myocardial infarction, stroke, and renal
failure (Khosravi-Boroujeni et al. 2017).
The antihypertensive effect of sesamin (1%w/w), a lignan from sesame oil, was
observed using salt-loaded and salt-unloaded stroke-prone spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHRSP). Sesamin feeding significantly suppressed the development of
hypertension in the salt-loaded groups, whereas a nonsignificant suppression was
observed in the salt-unloaded group. In the histochemical studies of the aorta and
superior mesenteric arteries, the authors observed a significant decrease in the wall
316
L. Sharma et al.
be used as a therapeutic approach in diabetes management.
Effects of sesame butter (1.25 g/kg) versus sesame oil (0.5 g/kg) (fed by oral
gavage to diabetic rats for 6 weeks) on the serum levels of glucose, lipid profile, and
oxidative stress biomarkers were examined, and significant reduction in the levels of
glucose and increased levels of high-density lipoprotein were reported. The authors
concluded that future intensive research on human diabetes should be undertaken to
determine the exact dose and duration of supplementation of sesame butter for
effective antihyperglycemic and partly lipid-reducing properties (Haidari et al.
2016). Bigoniya et al. (2012) observed that sesame meal-based products such as
sesame meal-supplemented bread, tahini (sesame paste), and halwa (confectionary)
were found suitable for diabetics as they contain less carbohydrate and high protein.
Aslam et al. (2018) investigated the impact of white sesame seed oil (WSSO)
consumption on fasting blood glucose (GLU), insulin (INS), glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c), and hepatic antioxidant enzymes in 46 participants with type 2 diabetes
at 0, 30, 60, and 90 days interval. The influence of WSSO on serum biochemistry,
hepatic, cardiac, and renal functions was also studied. A significant reduction
( p < 0.05) in GLU from mean 187.07 Æ 5.63 mg/dl at 0 day to
137.83 Æ 3.16 mg/dl at 90 day was observed in sesame oil-supplemented diabetic
group, whereas the diabetic control group was reported to have 218.13 Æ 5.92 mg/dl
fasting blood glucose level. Furthermore, at the end of the study period, the HbA1c
levels significantly reduced in the sesame oil-supplemented group when compared
with control. INS increased from mean 12.12 Æ 1.03 μU/ml at day 0 to
23.13 Æ 1.15 μU/ml when compared with control (7.93 Æ 0.38 μU/ml) at day 90.
Additionally, the activities of superoxide dismutase, catalase, and glutathione peroxidase increased significantly, whereas in the control group, their activities
decreased significantly ( p < 0.05). The authors concluded that the white sesame
seed oil can act as a functional food by improving the biomarkers of the liver,
cardiac, and renal functions which improved significantly and, thus, can be used in
diabetes management.
12.7.2 Hypertension
Owing to the rich content of polyunsaturated fatty acids, fiber, phytosterol, and
lignans, sesame consumption may offer protection against hypertension and associated diseases like cardiovascular diseases, myocardial infarction, stroke, and renal
failure (Khosravi-Boroujeni et al. 2017).
The antihypertensive effect of sesamin (1%w/w), a lignan from sesame oil, was
observed using salt-loaded and salt-unloaded stroke-prone spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHRSP). Sesamin feeding significantly suppressed the development of
hypertension in the salt-loaded groups, whereas a nonsignificant suppression was
observed in the salt-unloaded group. In the histochemical studies of the aorta and
superior mesenteric arteries, the authors observed a significant decrease in the wall
316
L. Sharma et al.