Antioxidant and anti-inflammation activities of bioactive compounds extracted and isolated from ethanol extract of sesamum indicum L.

Sesamum indicum L. or sesame seeds (from Pedaliaceae) has already been used and considered as herbal medicine to ameliorate symptoms related to inflammation since ancient civilizations. Modern chronic diseases, which can transform into clinical diseases, are potential targets of sesame lignans that are abundant in sesame seeds. The prime example of chronic diseases is inflammatory diseases, which results from oxidative stress and impaired production of nitric oxide (NO). Oxidative stress develops when excess production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) occur. Two sesame lignans (sesamin and sesamolin) were isolated from the hexane layer of the ethanolic extract of sesame seeds through silica gel column chromatography. The solvent system used is hexane: EtOAc with 9:1 ratio. Chemical constituent analyses were performed in crude extracts for the determination of polyphenols, flavonoids and condensed tannins contents. Among the crude extracts, EtOAc layer appeared to have profuse of polyphenols. Meanwhile, hexane layer contains sesame lignans as low number of constituents were found. Bioassays related to anti-oxidation and anti-inflammation were conducted for further assessment of the bioactive components of sesame. Upon the determination of the extracts to scavenge free radicals using DPPH assay, to manifest reducing power using FRAP assay, and to inhibit NO with RAW 264.7 cell viability, EtOAc layer showed the highest potency among others but with high cytotoxicity in cells. Conversely, hexane layer showed moderate potency with low cytotoxicity in cells. Upon determination of the isolated lignans for their anti-oxidation and anti-inflammatory properties, sesamin and sesamolin exhibited moderated to high potency for both activities with high cell viability. Given these points, sesamin and sesamolin from S. indicum L. could possibly be potential drug candidates for treating patients with inflammatory-related diseases.