Chemical and biological study of the residual aerial parts of Sesamum indicum L.

The chemical composition of the residual aerial parts of the Egyptian crop of Sesamum indicum L. after collection of the seeds, was studied. Sesamin, sesamolin, stigmasterol, O-sitosterol and stigmasterol-3-O-beta-D-glucoside were isolated from the petroleum ether fraction of the alcoholic extract. Ferulic acid, rhamnetin, verbascoside, kaempferol-3-O-beta-D-glucuronide and mequelianin (quercetin-3-O-beta-D-glucuronide) were isolated from the butanol fraction. The content of the major constituents, namely sesamin and sesamolin, were determined by HPLC method. The alcoholic extract as well as its petroleum ether and butanol fractions were tested in vivo for the antioxidant, antihyperglycaemic and anticoagulant activities. The alcoholic extract exhibited a higher activity than its petroleum ether and butanol fractions in all the tested biological activities.