Antinociceptive and Anti-Inflammatory Activities of the Sesame Oil and Sesamin

• Main Authors: Érika Maria Henriques Monteiro, Lucas Apolinário Chibli, Célia Hitomi Yamamoto, Mônica Cecília Santana Pereira, Fernanda Maria Pinto Vilela, Mírian Pereira Rodarte, Míriam Aparecida de Oliveira Pinto, Maria da Penha Henriques do Amaral, Marcelo Silva Silvério, Ana Lúcia Santos de Matos Araújo, Aílson da Luz André de Araújo, Glauciemar Del-Vechio-Vieira, Orlando Vieira de Sousa
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: MDPI AG 2014-05-01
• Series: Nutrients
• Subjects: sesame oil; sesamin; antinociceptive activity; anti-inflammatory activity
• Online Access: http://www.mdpi.com/2072-6643/6/5/1931

Sesame oil is widely consumed as nutritious food, cooking oil, and in pharmaceuticals and food. In this study, the antinociceptive and anti-inflammatory properties of the sesame oil and sesamin were investigated. The sesame oil and sesamin reduced the number of abdominal contortions at the doses 100, 200, or 400 mg/kg. The first and second phases of the time paw licking were inhibited by sesame oil and sesamin (100, 200, or 400 mg/kg). After 90 min of treatment, sesame oil and sesamin increased the reaction time on a hot plate (200 or 400 mg/kg). Considering the tail-immersion assay, the sesame oil and sesamin produced significant effect after 60 min at the doses of 100, 200, or 400 mg/kg. After 4 h of application of the carrageenan, the sesame oil and sesamin were effective against the paw edema. The exudate volume and leucocyte migration were also reduced by sesame oil and sesamin. These results suggest that sesamin is one of the active compounds found in sesame oil and justify the antinociceptive and anti-inflammatory properties of this product.