استعملوا السمـسم يارجالــه..النساء يمتنعن!!

NUTRACEUTICAL AND PHARMACEUTICAL USES


Many nutraceutical uses have been discovered from sesame (Table 3). Sesame lignans have antioxidant and health promoting activities (Kato et al. 1998/). High amounts of both sesamin and sesamolin have been identified in sesame (Sirato-Yasumoto et al. 2001). Both sesamin and sesamolin were reported to increase both the hepatic mitochondrial and the peroxisomal fatty acid oxidation rate. Sesame seed consumption appears to increase plasma gamma-tocopherol and enhanced vitamin E activity which is believed to prevent cancer and heart disease (Cooney et al. 2001). Sesamin remained at 90% of the original level after roasting (Abe et al. 2001). Cephalin from sesame seed has hemostat activity and ranges from 133,168 to 233,856 ppm (Beckstrom-Sternberg et al. 1994a). Historically, fiber is used as an antidiabetic, antitumor, antiulcer, cancer preventive, cardioprotective, and laxative. Fiber ranges from 27,100 ppm to 67,000 ppm in the seed with up to 166,000 ppm in the leaf. (Beckstrom-Sternberg et al. 1994a). Sesame seed contains lecithin which has antioxidant and hepatoprotective activity and ranges from 58 ppm to 395 ppm (Beckstrom-Sternberg et al. 1994a). Lecithin is also likely effective for reducing hepatic steatosis in long term parenteral nutrition patients and a successful treatment for dermatitis and dry skin (Jellin et al. 2000).
Several pharmaceutical uses have been identified from sesame (Table 3). Myristic acid also has cancer preventive capability and is found in sesame seed ranging from 328 to 1,728 ppm (Beckstrom-Sternberg et al. 1994a).
Sesame oil is a pharmaceutic aid used as a solvent for intramuscular injections and has nutritive, demulcent, and emollient properties (Tyler et al. 1976) and has been used as a laxative (Dark 1998/). The oil was used during the 4th century by the Chinese as a remedy for toothaches and gum disease. Sesame oil is known to reduce cholesterol due to the high polyunsaturated fat content in the oil. Other uses include the treatment of blurred vision, dizziness, and headaches. The Indians have used sesame oil as an antibacterial mouthwash, to relieve anxiety and insomnia (Annussek 2001). A recent clinical trial proved that sesame oil was significantly more effective for treating nasal mucosa dryness due to a dry winter climate than isotonic sodium chloride solution (Johnson et al. 2001). In addition, sesame oil contains large amounts of linoleate in triglyceride form which selectively inhibited malignant melanoma growth (Smith and Salerno 2001). See Table 4 for additional ethnobotanical uses (Beckstrom-Sternberg et al. 1994).