Description

One of the initial oil seeds known to humankind, sesame seeds have been widely employed in culinary as well as in traditional medicines for their nutritive, preventive, and curative properties. They are highly valued for their oil which is exceptionally resistant to rancidity. "Open sesame"-the famous phrase from the Arabian Nights-reflects the distinguishing feature of the sesame seed pod, which bursts open when it reaches maturity. Not only are sesame seeds an excellent source of copper and a very good source of manganese, but they are also a good source of calcium, magnesium, iron, phosphorus, vitamin B1, zinc, molybdenum, selenium, and dietary fiber. They are used as active ingredients in antiseptics, bactericides, viricides, disinfectants, moth repellants, and antitubercular agents because they contain natural antioxidants such as sesamin and sesamolin. These characteristics have stimulated interest in the biochemical and physiological characterization of sesame. This study has covered 16 sesame varieties and revealed differences at seed protein level. Research on molecular characterization is needed to confirm these differences at genetic level.