An Appraisal of Current Pharmacological Perspectives of Sesamol: A Review

Abstract

Sesame (Sesamum indicum L.) seeds have been authenticated for its medicinal value in both Chinese and Indian systems of medicine. Its numerous potential nutritional benefits are attributed to its main bioactive constituents, sesamol. As a result of those studies, several molecular mechanisms are emerging describing the pleiotropic biological effects of sesamol. This review summarized the most interesting in vitro and in vivo studies on the biological effects of sesamol. The present work summarises data available from Pubmed and Scopus database. Several molecular mechanisms have been elucidated describing the pleiotropic biological effects of sesamol. Its major therapeutic effects have been elicited in managing oxidative and inflammatory conditions, metabolic syndrome and mood disorders. Further, compelling evidence reflected the ability of sesamol in inhibiting proliferation of the inflammatory cell, prevention of invasion and angiogenesis via affecting multiple molecular targets and downstream mechanisms. Sesamol is a safe, non‐toxic chemical that mediates anti‐inflammatory effects by down‐regulating the transcription of inflammatory markers such as cytokines, redox status, protein kinases, and enzymes that promote inflammation. In addition, sesamol also induces apoptosis in cancer cells via mitochondrial and receptor‐mediated pathways, as well as activation of caspase cascades. In the present review, several pharmacological effects of sesamol are summarised namely, antioxidant, anti-cancer, neuroprotective, cardioprotective, anti-inflammatory, hypolipidemic, radioprotective, anti-aging, anti-ulcer, anti-dementia, anti-depressant, antiplatelet, anticonvulsant, anti-anxiolytic, wound healing, cosmetic (skin whitening), anti-microbial, matrix metalloproteinase (MMPs) inhibition, hepatoprotective activity and other biological effects. Here we have summarized the proposed mechanism behind these pharmacological effects.

Murburn precepts for lactic‐acidosis, Cori cycle, and Warburg effect: Interactive dynamics of dehydrogenases, protons, and oxygen

“…The LDH inhibitors reported till date and explored herein (Tables 2 and 3; structures of inhibitors are detailed in Item 4, SI) are compounds that have antioxidant properties. For example, sesamol (a phenol derivative obtained from sesame seeds) is known to have antioxidant and pleiotropic biological effects (Bosebabu et al, 2020). Sesamol inhibits LDH reactions even though it does not have a low K d value for the protein.…”

Sesamol protects against aluminum oxide nanoparticles‐induced hepatorenal toxicity in rats via modulation of oxidative stress, inflammation, apoptosis, and DNA damage

“…19 Sesamol could provoke its antiinflammatory effect by down-regulating transcription of the promoting inflammatory markers such as cytokines, redox status, protein kinases, and enzymes. 20…”

“…14 It possesses cardiac, neural, and hepatorenal protective effects, [15][16][17][18] in addition to its hypolipidemic, anti-hypertensive, anti-aging, anti-oxidative, anti-inflammatory, anti-apoptotic, anti-mutagenic, and anticancer properties. 15,19,20 Liver and kidneys are among the main target organs for Al 2 O 3 -NPs accumulation. 21 Therefore, the current study aimed to investigate the hepatorenal adverse effects induced by aluminum-oxide nanoparticles in rats, focusing on the mechanistic roles of oxidative damages, inflammation, and apoptosis; and to evaluate the prospective efficacy of sesamol.…”

Sesamol protects the function and structure of rat ovaries against side effects of cyclophosphamide by decreasing oxidative stress and apoptosis

“…Moreover, sesamol as an oxidative stress scavenger may suppress apoptosis and increase follicular quality because the accumulation of oxidative stress in follicles leads to a decrease in the quality of follicles 40–42 . Also, the protective effect of sesamol may be achieved by restoring the activity of endogenous antioxidants 22,43 . Ren et al have reported that antioxidative and protective effects of sesamol take place by regulating the Nrf2/Keap1 pathway which is a key pathway for antioxidants to eliminate ROS and protect cells from oxidative stress and apoptosis 44 .…”