Sesamum indicum Flashcards

Sesame is a cultivated oilseed crop from the Pedaliaceae (Pedalium) family.
It is an annual flowering plant that produces pods containing seeds.
Key parts used:
- Seeds: used for oil and food.
- Leaves: used in salads and as herbs, and as an aromatic.
- Flowers: are aesthetically pleasing.

$S. indicum$ is believed to have originated in South Asia over 3,000 years ago, likely in India.
It is mentioned in early Hindu legends, where sesame seeds were believed to represent a symbol of immortality.
The plant spread from India to the Middle East, Africa, and other countries in Asia.
It was introduced to the U.S. from Africa in the late 17th century.
Major producers include India, Sudan, Myanmar, and China, accounting for 68% of global production.
World's sesame market size (Mondor Intelligence, 2022).

Sesame grows well in warm, dry climates.
It is highly drought-resistant.
Harvesting is done manually or mechanically.
Propagation occurs by seed sown in spring, taking approximately 4 months to fully ripen.

Most sesame seeds are processed for oil or used as a raw ingredient in culinary applications, soaps, lubricants, and cosmetics.
Sesame seeds are high in protein content (methionine and tryptophan) and are often added to recipes to improve nutritional balance.

Seeds contain sesamin and sesamolin:
- Have cholesterol-lowering effects in humans and may help prevent high blood pressure.
- Maintains HDL (good cholesterol) and reduces LDL (bad cholesterol).
Contains phospholipid Cephalin: which shows hemostatic activity.
Rich in antioxidants (lignins): extends food shelf-life and improves flavor (umami).
Pharmaceutical uses: mild laxative, emollient (softening or soothing), and demulcent (relieves inflammation or irritation).
Anilkumar, K. R., Pal, A., Khanum, F., & Bawa, A.S. (2010). Nutritional, medicinal and industrial uses of sesame (Sesamum indicum L.) seeds- an overview. Agriculturae Conspectus Scientificus, 75(4), 159-168.

Sesame oil is in high commercial demand in both the food and cosmetic industries.
It is a vital crop for smallholder farmers.
Grown primarily for export in developing nations.

Sesame is ancient but still highly relevant.
It is valued for food, health, and economic reasons.
Future requirements:
- Sustainable agricultural techniques to minimize soil degradation and optimize water use.
- Advances in breeding and sustainability efforts to meet marketing demands (economic view-point).

Anilakumar, K. R., Pal, A., Khanum, F., & Bawa, A. S. (2010). Nutritional, medicinal and industrial uses of sesame (Sesamum indicum L.) seeds-an overview. Agriculturae Conspectus Scientificus, 75(4), 159-168.
Amoo, S. O., Okorogbona, A. O. M., Du Plooy, C. P., & Venter, S. L. (2017). Sesamum indicum. In Medicinal spices and vegetables from Africa (pp. 549-579). Academic Press.
Laurentin, H., & Karlovsky, P. (2007). AFLP fingerprinting of sesame (Sesamum indicum L.) cultivars: identification, genetic relationship and comparison of AFLP informativeness parameters. Genetic Resources and Crop Evolution, 54, 1437-1446.
Ogunsola, O., & Fasola, T. (2014). The antibacterial activities of Sesamum indicum Linn. leaf extracts. Methods, 18, 28-32
Ashri, A. (2006). Sesame (Sesamum indicum L.). Genetic Resources, Chromosome Engineering, and Crop Improvement (Singh RJ, ed.), 4, 231-289.
Elleuch, M., Bedigian, D., & Zitoun, A. (2011). Sesame (Sesamum indicum L.) seeds in food, nutrition, and health. In Nuts and seeds in health and disease prevention (pp. 1029-1036). Academic Press.