Truan et al. (2012) studied the comparative effect of flaxseed lignan,
secoisolariciresinol diglucoside (SDG) and sesame seed lignan, and sesamin (SES)
in human estrogen receptor-positive breast tumors (MCF-7) with high serum estrogen in athymic mice for 8 weeks. The authors reported that in mice fed with SES
(1 g/kg), the tumor size reduced by 23% than in control; tumor cell proliferation also
decreased along with an increase in apoptosis, whereas SDG-fed mice group neither
differed from control in tumor size reduction nor was an increase in apoptosis was
observed. Hence, the authors concluded that SES was found to be more successful in
reducing the tumor size when compared with SDG at high serum estrogen levels.
In an in vitro study, Siao et al. (2015) observed that in the human breast cancer
MCF-7 cell line, sesamin brought dose-dependent (1, 10, and 50 μM) reduction in
the cell viability and increased lactic dehydrogenase (LDH) release and apoptosis.
The authors suggested that as sesamin can modulate apoptotic signal pathways and
also inhibit tumor cell growth, it can be used as a dietary supplement for prevention
of breast cancer.
12.7.4 Bone Health
Phytoestrogens are naturally occurring plant compounds which consist of
isoflavones, lignans, and coumestans. They are either structurally or functionally
similar to β-estradiol (E2) and, thus, can play a prominent role in maintaining bone
health in addition to their antioxidant activity (Hassan et al. 2013).
Boulbaroud et al. (2008) studied the effect of dietary flaxseed oil (7 and 10%) and
sesame oil (7 and 10%) on biochemical and histological status of bone in
64 90-day-old female ovariectomized rats. After 4 weeks of treatment, the
researchers observed that animal group fed with 10% flaxseed and 10% sesame
seed oil had significantly reduced alkaline phosphatase activity (bone formation
marker) and tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase activity (bone resorption marker)
along with improved bone microarchitecture when compared with control. However,
no significant decrease was observed in the groups which received 7% of the
flaxseed or sesame seed oil-supplemented diet.
Hassan et al. (2013) studied the effect of soybean oil (15%)- and sesame oil
(10%)-supplemented diets on bone mineral density, serum minerals (calcium, phosphorus, and magnesium), estrogen, serum lipid profile, enzymes (alkaline phosphatase and acid phosphatase activity), parathyroid hormone, osteocalcin, total protein,
urea, and creatinine in ovariectomized rats for 2 months. The study showed that the
supplementation of sesame and soybean oil in the diet of ovariectomized rats
brought a significant improvement in all the abovementioned parameters and, thus,
due to their high phytoestrogen content can act as natural anti-osteoporotic agents.
EL Wakf et al. (2014) also reported the osteoprotective effect of sesame oil- and
soybean oil-supplemented diets (10% and 15%, respectively) on the ovariectomized
(OVX) rats. The authors reported that after 2 months of supplementation, there was
significant improvements in calcium and phosphorus level, the inflammatory indices
318
L. Sharma et al.
secoisolariciresinol diglucoside (SDG) and sesame seed lignan, and sesamin (SES)
in human estrogen receptor-positive breast tumors (MCF-7) with high serum estrogen in athymic mice for 8 weeks. The authors reported that in mice fed with SES
(1 g/kg), the tumor size reduced by 23% than in control; tumor cell proliferation also
decreased along with an increase in apoptosis, whereas SDG-fed mice group neither
differed from control in tumor size reduction nor was an increase in apoptosis was
observed. Hence, the authors concluded that SES was found to be more successful in
reducing the tumor size when compared with SDG at high serum estrogen levels.
In an in vitro study, Siao et al. (2015) observed that in the human breast cancer
MCF-7 cell line, sesamin brought dose-dependent (1, 10, and 50 μM) reduction in
the cell viability and increased lactic dehydrogenase (LDH) release and apoptosis.
The authors suggested that as sesamin can modulate apoptotic signal pathways and
also inhibit tumor cell growth, it can be used as a dietary supplement for prevention
of breast cancer.
12.7.4 Bone Health
Phytoestrogens are naturally occurring plant compounds which consist of
isoflavones, lignans, and coumestans. They are either structurally or functionally
similar to β-estradiol (E2) and, thus, can play a prominent role in maintaining bone
health in addition to their antioxidant activity (Hassan et al. 2013).
Boulbaroud et al. (2008) studied the effect of dietary flaxseed oil (7 and 10%) and
sesame oil (7 and 10%) on biochemical and histological status of bone in
64 90-day-old female ovariectomized rats. After 4 weeks of treatment, the
researchers observed that animal group fed with 10% flaxseed and 10% sesame
seed oil had significantly reduced alkaline phosphatase activity (bone formation
marker) and tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase activity (bone resorption marker)
along with improved bone microarchitecture when compared with control. However,
no significant decrease was observed in the groups which received 7% of the
flaxseed or sesame seed oil-supplemented diet.
Hassan et al. (2013) studied the effect of soybean oil (15%)- and sesame oil
(10%)-supplemented diets on bone mineral density, serum minerals (calcium, phosphorus, and magnesium), estrogen, serum lipid profile, enzymes (alkaline phosphatase and acid phosphatase activity), parathyroid hormone, osteocalcin, total protein,
urea, and creatinine in ovariectomized rats for 2 months. The study showed that the
supplementation of sesame and soybean oil in the diet of ovariectomized rats
brought a significant improvement in all the abovementioned parameters and, thus,
due to their high phytoestrogen content can act as natural anti-osteoporotic agents.
EL Wakf et al. (2014) also reported the osteoprotective effect of sesame oil- and
soybean oil-supplemented diets (10% and 15%, respectively) on the ovariectomized
(OVX) rats. The authors reported that after 2 months of supplementation, there was
significant improvements in calcium and phosphorus level, the inflammatory indices
318
L. Sharma et al.