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ARS Home » Southeast Area » Griffin, Georgia » Plant Genetic Resources Conservation Unit » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #209101
Title: A Survey of Sesamin and Composition of tocopherol Variability from Seeds of 11 Diverse Sesame (Sesamum indicum L.) Genotypes using HPLC-PDA-ECD

Author
item WILLIAMSON, K - OKLAHOMA MED. RES. FOUND
item Morris, John - Brad
item PYE, QUENTIN - OKLAHOMA MED. RES. FOUND
item KAMAT, CHANDRASHEKHAR - OKLAHOMA MED. RES. FOUND
item HENSLEY, K - OKLAHOMA MED. RES. FOUND.

Submitted to: Phytochemical Analysis
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 10/5/2007
Publication Date: 1/1/2008
Citation: Williamson, K.S., Morris, J.B., Pye, Q.N., Kamat, C.D., Hensley, K. 2008. A survey of sesamin and composition of tocopherol variability from seeds of 11 diverse sesame (sesamum indicum l.) genotypes using hplc-pda-ecd. Phytochemical Analysis 19: 311-322.

Interpretive Summary: Sesame contains various chemicals which can be used as nutrition supplements. A goup of chemicals produced in sesame seeds include sesamin and vitamin E (tocopherol). Sesamin has anticancer properties and vitamin E acts as an antioxidant. Sesamin and vitamin E (tocopherols) ranged from 0.034 to 99.3 ug/g for seeds in all eleven sesame accessions. High amounts of both sesamin and vitamin E have been found in 11 sesame accessions. These sesame accessions could be used by the nutritional supplement market or by breeders to develop superior sesame varieties containing high amounts of sesamin and vitamin E.

Technical Abstract: The composition and content of sesamin and desmethyl tocopherols such as alpha tocopherol ('T), delta tocopherol, 'T) and gamma tocopherol (yT) in sesame (sesa-mum-indicumL.) were determined for eleven sesame genotypes conserved in the United States National Plant Germplasm System in Griffin, Georgia, U.S.A. All seed accessions studied were collections from diverse countries of worldwide origin, one landrace from Thailand, and two cultivars from Texas, U.S.A. Novel methodologies and analytical techniques described herein consisted of reverse-phase high Photodiode array detection was employed for sesamin analysis and electrochemical array detection was used in determination of tocopherols. A preliminary study was conducted in 2003 and 2004 to assess sesamin and tocopherol levels in harvested sesame seed samples. In 2005, sesame seed samples were again collected and evaluated. The overall results (N=3) illustrated that sesamin, 'T, 'T, and yT levels ranged from 0.67-6.35mg/g, 0.034-0.175 µg/g, 0.44-3.05 µg/g, and 56.9-99.3 µg/g, respectively. Statistical analysis was conducted and significant differences were observed among the eleven different sesame genotypes, therefore, genetic, environmental, and geographical factors may influence sesamin and desmethyl tocopherols content.