Search Results (45)

This study investigated whether pre-treating sesame (Sesamum indicum L.) seeds with a combination of acid-soaking and microwave-heating could significantly enhance the quality of the resulting sesame oil, particularly by increasing its content of functional compounds such as lignans, tocopherol, phytosterol, and squalene. The study revealed that soaking the sesame seeds in a solution of HCl and citric acid, along with microwave-heating, significantly increased the content of these compounds. The detected ranges were sesamin (1365–6927 µg g⁻¹), sesamolin (605–3493 µg g⁻¹), tocopherol (69.31–282.76 µg g⁻¹), asarinin (ND–383.52 µg g⁻¹), sesamol (ND–49.59 µg g⁻¹), phytosterol (3690–6201 µg g⁻¹), and squalene (532−1628 µg g⁻¹). Additionally, the study found that the pre-treatment of sesame seeds had a minimal effect on the fatty acid composition, antioxidant activity (92.94–95.08% DPPH scavenging activity), and oxidative stability (2.13–2.90 mg MDA kg⁻¹ oil). This is the first study to demonstrate that using acid-soaking and microwave-heating to prepare sesame seeds can produce sesame oil enriched with functional compounds, potentially benefiting cosmetic, pharmaceutical, and health applications. Full article

Aurantiochytrium is a well-known long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) producer, especially docosahexaenoic acid (DHA). In order to reduce the cost or improve the productivity of DHA, many researchers are focusing on exploring the high-yield strain, reducing production costs, changing culture conditions, and other measures. In this study, DHA production was improved by a two-stage fermentation. In the first stage, efficient and cheap soybean powder was used instead of conventional peptone, and the optimization of fermentation conditions (optimal fermentation conditions: temperature 28.7 °C, salinity 10.7‰, nitrogen source concentration 1.01 g/L, and two-nitrogen ratio of yeast extract to soybean powder 2:1) based on response surface methodology resulted in a 1.68-fold increase in biomass concentration. In the second stage, the addition of 2.5 mM sesamol increased the production of fatty acid and DHA by 93.49% and 98.22%, respectively, as compared to the optimal culture condition with unadded sesamol. Transcriptome analyses revealed that the addition of sesamol resulted in the upregulation of some genes related to fatty acid synthesis and antioxidant enzymes in Aurantiochytrium. This research provides a low-cost and effective culture method for the commercial production of DHA by Aurantiochytrium sp. Full article

Sesame oil has been widely used for centuries. It is not only used as a kitchen ingredient, but it is also used to apply to the skin. Sesame oil contains natural compounds such as sesamol, sesamolin and sesamide, which have the ability to reflect or absorb certain UV rays. These substances can act as UV filters, helping to minimize the effects of harmful UV radiation on the skin. The aim of the study was to investigate the radioprotective/sun protection properties of sesame oil. The influence of sesame oils from different manufacturers on the directional reflectance of the skin was analyzed at various time intervals. To assess the sunscreen properties of the oil, a new technique was used: the 410-Solar hemispherical directional reflectometer. Sesame oil can be used in sunscreen preparations, but only when combined with other, more powerful ingredients. The oil itself is not sufficient protection against solar radiation. The study revealed no significant disparities in performance between the tested sesame oils from diverse manufacturers. Full article

This paper investigated the inhibitory effect of Sesamol (Ses) on Pestalotiopsis neglecta. The potential inhibitory mechanisms were explored by observing changes in cell morphology, measuring alterations in cell membrane-related indices, as well as energy metabolism-related indices and changes in enzyme activities related to virulence. The results show that Ses completely inhibited the growth of P. neglecta at 600 μg/mL (minimum inhibitory concentration and minimum fungicidal concentration), with an EC₅₀ of 142 ± 13.22 μg/mL. As observed with scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM), Ses treatment resulted in the breakage and crumpling of P. neglecta cell membrane and organelle lysis. Ergosterol content and the total lipid in P. neglecta treated with 300 μg/mL Ses was 91.52% and 54% of that in the control groups, respectively. In addition, spores were stained, increased leakage of intracellular constituents at 260 nm, and decreased extracellular pH. This suggests damage to the cell membrane integrity and permeability. Furthermore, Ses decreased the ATP levels and key enzymes in the tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle, indicating interference with the fungal energy metabolism. Moreover, the activities of polygalacturonase (PG) and endoglucanase (EG) of P. neglecta treated with 300 μg/mL of Ses were only 28.20% and 29.13% of that in the control groups, respectively, indicating that Ses can reduce the virulence of P. neglecta. In conclusion, our results show that Ses should be considered as a potential plant-derived fungicide due to its ability to disrupt the morphology of P. neglecta, damage cell membrane integrity and permeability in P. neglecta, interfere with energy metabolism, and reduce its virulence, ultimately affecting the fungal growth. Full article

Our research focuses on evaluating the preliminary stability of solid lipid nanoparticles (SLNs) in order to identify an optimal formulation for studying the skin penetration of SLNs loaded with sesamol, with a view to developing potential cosmetic applications. For this study, SLNs were prepared with varying lipid and surfactant compositions and produced through homogenization and ultrasonication. The particle size (PS), polydispersity index (PDI), zeta potential (ZP), and encapsulation efficiency (EE) were analyzed for the different formulations. We identified OP2Se as the optimal formulation for skin penetration assessment due to its stable PS, PDI, ZP, and EE over time, with a Turbiscan Stability Index (TSI) below 1 after a month, indicating favorable stability conditions. The in vitro skin permeation study compared sesamol-loaded SLNs with a control sesamol hydrogel, revealing controlled release characteristics ideal for localized skin effects without significant bloodstream penetration, attributed to the SLNs’ 200 nm particle size. Further exploration could enhance skin retention and targeting, potentially extending penetration studies and reducing particle size to improve accumulation in hair follicles. Exploring SLN applications beyond sesamol, such as incorporating mineral filters for suncare, offers promising avenues, underscoring SLNs’ versatility in cosmetic formulations and skincare applications. Full article

There is a growing interest in discovering natural sources of anti-cancer drugs. Sesamol (SES) is a phenolic compound with antitumor effects. The present study aimed to investigate the anticancer properties of SES and its nano-suspensions (SES-NS) combined with Epirubicin (EPI) in breast cancer (BC) using mice bearing a solid Ehrlich tumor. The study involved 35 female albino mice and investigated the effects of SES and EPI on tumor growth, proliferation, apoptosis, autophagy, angiogenesis, and oxidative stress. Methods including ELISA, qRT-PCR, and immunohistochemistry were utilized. The findings revealed reductions in tumor growth and proliferation using SES either alone or combined and evidenced by decreased AKT (AKT Serine/Threonine kinase1) levels, angiogenesis indicated by lower levels of VEGFR (vascular endothelial growth factor), and apoptosis demonstrated by elevated caspase3 and BAX levels. Furthermore, autophagy increased and was indicated by increased levels of beclin1 and lc3, along with decreased oxidative stress as evidenced by elevated TAC (total antioxidant capacity) and reduced MDA (malondialdehyde) levels. Interestingly, SES-NS demonstrated more significant effects at lower doses. In summary, this study underscores the potential of SES as a promising agent for BC treatment. Moreover, SES-NS potentiated the beneficial effects of EPI while mitigating its adverse effects. Full article

Walnuts play a positive role in human health due to their large amounts of unsaturated fatty acids, whereas lipid oxidation can easily occur during storage. Herein, three natural antioxidants (epicatechin, sesamol, and myricetin) were added to the composite film cross-linked with chitosan and soy protein peptide, and the antioxidant film appropriate for the preservation of walnut kernels from Juglans sigillata was screened to improve the storage quality of walnuts. The results showed that three antioxidant films could all enhance the storage performance of walnut kernels, with sesamol being the best. The characterization of antioxidant film cross-linked with chitosan and soy protein peptide containing sesamol (C/S-ses film) revealed that the composite film improved the slow release and stability of sesamol; in addition, the presence of sesamol could effectively reduce the light transmittance and water vapor permeability of the composite film, together with significantly enhancing the antioxidant and antimicrobial activities, resulting in an effective prolongation of the storage period of walnut kernels. These findings indicated that C/S-ses possess excellent potential for retarding the oxidative rancidity of unsaturated fatty acids and will provide an effective strategy for the preservation of walnut kernels. Full article

An overview of solvent replacement strategies shows that there is great progress in green chemistry for replacing hazardous di-polar aprotic solvents, such as N,N-dimethylformamide (DMF), 1-methyl-2-pyrrolidinone (NMP), and 1,4-dioxane (DI), used in processing active industrial ingredients (APIs). In synthetic chemistry, alcohols, carbonates, ethers, eucalyptol, glycols, furans, ketones, cycloalkanones, lactones, pyrrolidinone or solvent mixtures, 2-methyl tetrahydrofuran in methanol, HCl in cyclopentyl methyl ether, or trifluoroacetic acid in propylene carbonate or surfactant water (no organic solvents) are suggested replacement solvents. For the replacement of dichloromethane (DCM) used in chromatography, ethyl acetate ethanol or 2-propanol in heptanes, with or without acetic acid or ammonium hydroxide additives, are suggested, along with methanol acetic acid in ethyl acetate or methyl tert-butyl ether, ethyl acetate in ethanol in cyclohexane, CO₂-ethyl acetate, CO₂-methanol, CO₂-acetone, and CO₂-isopropanol. Supercritical CO₂ (scCO₂) can be used to replace many organic solvents used in processing materials from natural sources. Vegetable, drupe, legume, and seed oils used as co-extractants (mixed with substrate before extraction) can be used to replace the typical organic co-solvents (ethanol, acetone) used in scCO₂ extraction. Mixed solvents consisting of a hydrogen bond donor (HBD) solvent and a hydrogen bond acceptor (HBA) are not addressed in GSK or CHEM21 solvent replacement guides. Published data for 100 water-soluble and water-insoluble APIs in mono-solvents show polarity ranges appropriate for the processing of APIs with mixed solvents. When water is used, possible HBA candidate solvents are acetone, acetic acid, acetonitrile, ethanol, methanol, 2-methyl tetrahydrofuran, 2,2,5,5-tetramethyloxolane, dimethylisosorbide, Cyrene, Cygnet 0.0, or diformylxylose. When alcohol is used, possible HBA candidates are cyclopentanone, esters, lactone, eucalytol, MeSesamol, or diformylxylose. HBA—HBA mixed solvents, such as Cyrene—Cygnet 0.0, could provide interesting new combinations. Solubility parameters, Reichardt polarity, Kamlet—Taft parameters, and linear solvation energy relationships provide practical ways for identifying mixed solvents applicable to API systems. Full article

Food safety problems caused by foodborne pathogens have become a major public issue, and the search for efficient and safe bacteriostatic agents has gained attention. Sesamol (SE), a phenolic compound abundant in sesame oil, offers numerous health benefits and exhibits certain antibacterial properties. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the antibacterial effect and potential mechanisms of SE against representative foodborne pathogens, including Listeria monocytogenes, Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus cereus, Escherichia coli, and Salmonella serovar Enteritidis. The results showed that SE significantly inhibited the growth of the five pathogenic bacteria in sterile saline and pasteurized milk by 2.16–4.16 log₁₀ CFU/g within 48 h. The results of the minimum bactericidal concentration and time–kill assay showed that SE had a greater inhibitory effect on L. monocytogenes compared with other bacteria. Additionally, SE was found to alter the cell membranes’ permeability in these bacteria, resulting in the release of intercellular proteins and DNA. A scanning electron microscopy analysis showed that exposure to SE resulted in significant changes in bacterial morphology, producing cell shrinkage and deformation. These findings suggest that SE could inhibit both Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria by interfering with the function and morphology of bacterial cells. Full article

Sesamol (SM) is a potent natural antioxidant that can quench free radicals and modulate the cholinergic system in the brain, thereby ameliorating memory and cognitive impairment in Alzheimer’s disease patients. Moreover, the total antioxidant capacity can be amplified by synergistic interactions between different antioxidants. Here, we constructed a ternary heterojunction graphitic carbon nitride/cupric sulfide/titanium dioxide (g-C₃N₄/CuS/TiO₂) photoelectrochemical (PEC) sensor for the quantification of SM and its synergistic interactions with other antioxidants. Crucially, the Schottky barrier in ternary semiconductors considerably enhances electron transfer. The PEC sensor showed a wide linear range for SM detection, ranging from 2 to 1277 μmol L⁻¹, and had a limit of detection of 1.8 μmol L⁻¹. Remarkably, this sensing platform could evaluate the synergism between SM and five typical lipid-soluble antioxidants: tert-butyl hydroquinone, vitamin E, butyl hydroxyanisole, propyl gallate, and butylated hydroxytoluene. Owing to its low redox potential, SM could reduce antioxidant radicals and promote their regeneration, which increased the overall antioxidant performance. The g-C₃N₄/CuS/TiO₂ PEC sensor exhibited high sensitivity, satisfactory selectivity, and stability, and was successfully applied for SM determination in both soybean and peanut oils. The findings of this study provide guidance for the development of nutritional foods, nutrition analysis, and the treatment of diseases caused by free radicals. Full article

Sesame is principally used to generate oil, which is produced by chemical refining or pressing. Sesame meal, as a main byproduct of sesame oil extraction, is usually discarded, causing resource waste and economic loss. Sesame meal is rich in sesame protein and three types of sesame lignans (sesamin, sesamolin, and sesamol). Sesame protein extracted via a physical method and an enzymic method has balanced amino acid composition and is an important protein source, and thus it is often added to animal feed and used as a human dietary supplement. Extracted sesame lignan exhibits multiple biological activities such as antihypertensive, anticancer, and cholesterol-lowering activities, and therefore it is used to improve the oxidative stability of oils. This review summarizes the extraction methods, functional activities, and comprehensive utilization of four active substances (sesame protein, sesamin, sesamolin, and sesamol) in sesame meal with the aim to provide theoretical guidance for the maximum utilization of sesame meal. Full article

Media supplementation has proven to be an effective technique for improving byproduct yield during microbial fermentation. This study explored the impact of different concentrations of bioactive compounds, namely alpha-tocopherol, mannitol, melatonin, sesamol, ascorbic acid, and biotin, on the Aurantiochytrium sp. TWZ-97 culture. Our investigation revealed that alpha-tocopherol was the most effective compound in reducing the reactive oxygen species (ROS) burden, both directly and indirectly. Adding 0.7 g/L of alpha-tocopherol led to an 18% improvement in biomass, from 6.29 g/L to 7.42 g/L. Moreover, the squalene concentration increased from 129.8 mg/L to 240.2 mg/L, indicating an 85% improvement, while the squalene yield increased by 63.2%, from 19.82 mg/g to 32.4 mg/g. Additionally, our comparative transcriptomics analysis suggested that several genes involved in glycolysis, pentose phosphate pathway, TCA cycle, and MVA pathway were overexpressed following alpha-tocopherol supplementation. The alpha-tocopherol supplementation also lowered ROS levels by binding directly to ROS generated in the fermentation medium and indirectly by stimulating genes that encode antioxidative enzymes, thereby decreasing the ROS burden. Our findings suggest that alpha-tocopherol supplementation can be an effective method for improving squalene production in Aurantiochytrium sp. TWZ-97 culture. Full article

Sesamol is a phenolic lignan isolated from Sesamum indicum seeds and sesame oil. Numerous studies have reported that sesamol exhibits lipid-lowering and anti-atherogenic properties. The lipid-lowering effects of sesamol are evidenced by its effects on serum lipid levels, which have been attributed to its potential for significantly influencing molecular processes involved in fatty acid synthesis and oxidation as well as cholesterol metabolism. In this review, we present a comprehensive summary of the reported hypolipidemic effects of sesamol, observed in several in vivo and in vitro studies. The effects of sesamol on serum lipid profiles are thoroughly addressed and evaluated. Studies highlighting the ability of sesamol to inhibit fatty acid synthesis, stimulate fatty acid oxidation, enhance cholesterol metabolism, and modulate macrophage cholesterol efflux are outlined. Additionally, the possible molecular pathways underlying the cholesterol-lowering effects of sesamol are presented. Findings reveal that the anti-hyperlipidemic effects of sesamol are achieved, at least in part, by targeting liver X receptor α (LXRα), sterol regulatory element binding protein-1 (SREBP-1), and fatty acid synthase (FAS) expression, as well as peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor α (PPARα) and AMP activated protein kinase (AMPK) signaling pathways. A detailed understanding of the molecular mechanisms underlying the anti-hyperlipidemic potential of sesamol is necessary to assess the possibility of utilizing sesamol as an alternative natural therapeutic agent with potent hypolipidemic and anti-atherogenic properties. Research into the optimal sesamol dosage that may bring about such favorable hypolipidemic effects should be further investigated, most importantly in humans, to ensure maximal therapeutic benefit. Full article

The susceptibility of polyunsaturated fatty acids to oxidation severely limits their application in functional emulsified foods. In this study, the effect of sesamol concentration on the physicochemical properties of WPI-stabilized fish oil emulsions was investigated, focusing on the relationship between sesamol–WPI interactions and interfacial behavior. The results relating to particle size, zeta-potential, microstructure, and appearance showed that 0.09% (w/v) sesamol promoted the formation of small oil droplets and inhibited oil droplet aggregation. Furthermore, the addition of sesamol significantly reduced the formation of hydrogen peroxide, generation of secondary reaction products during storage, and degree of protein oxidation in the emulsions. Molecular docking and isothermal titration calorimetry showed that the interaction between sesamol and β-LG was mainly mediated by hydrogen bonds and hydrophobic interactions. Our results show that sesamol binds to interfacial proteins mainly through hydrogen bonding, and increasing the interfacial sesamol content reduces the interfacial tension and improves the physical and oxidative stability of the emulsion. Full article

Natural plants and their products continue to be the major source of phytoconstituents in food and therapeutics. Scientific studies have evidenced the benefits of sesame oil and its bioactives in various health conditions. Various bioactives present in it include sesamin, sasamolin, sesaminol, and sesamol; among these, sesamol represents a major constituent. This bioactive is responsible for preventing various diseases including cancer, hepatic disorders, cardiac ailments, and neurological diseases. In the last decade, the application of sesamol in the management of various disorders has attracted the increasing interest of the research community. Owing to its prominent pharmacological activities, such as antioxidant, antiinflammatory, antineoplastic, and antimicrobial, sesamol has been explored for the above-mentioned disorders. However, despite the above-mentioned therapeutic potential, its clinical utility is mainly hindered owing to low solubility, stability, bioavailability, and rapid clearance issues. In this regard, numerous strategies have been explored to surpass these restrictions with the formulation of novel carrier platforms. This review aims to describe the various reports and summarize the different pharmacological activities of sesamol. Furthermore, one part of this review is devoted to formulating strategies to improve sesamol’s challenges. To resolve the issues such as the stability, low bioavailability, and high systemic clearance of sesamol, novel carrier systems have been developed to open a new avenue to utilize this bioactive as an efficient first-line treatment for various diseases. Full article