Sesame seeds (Sesamum indicum); sesame indian
An annual herbaceous plant of the sesame family. The stems are pubescent, erect, four-, eight-sided, branched, 80-110 cm tall. The leaves are long-petiolate, alternate or opposite, entire or toothed, 10-30 cm long: the lower ones are rounded; middle ones — lanceolate, elliptic or elongated ovoid, incised or gill-finger-separate; the upper ones are narrow. The flowers are large, on a short peduncle, 1-3 each in the axils of the leaves; corolla double-lipped, pubescent, purple or pink, rarely white. The fruit is an elongated multi-seeded capsule. Blooms in June – July.
Distribution . Oriental sesame comes from southwest Africa. In the south of Ukraine, sesame is grown as an oil plant.
Raw. Seeds (Semen Sesami), sesame oil (Oleum Sesami) and juice from fresh leaves are used for medicinal purposes.
Chemical composition . The seeds of the plant contain fatty oil (about 55%), protein (up to 20%), carbohydrates (16%), lignans (sesamin, sesamolin), phytosterol, vitamin E, amino acids (histidine, tryptophan) and a significant amount of phosphorus and calcium.
Pharmacological properties and use. Sesame oil has the ability to increase the number of platelets in the blood and accelerate its clotting. This makes it effective in the treatment of thrombopenic purpura, essential thrombopenia and hemorrhagic diatheses. In pharmaceutical practice, oil is used as a basis for preparing ointments, liniments, plasters, oil emulsions and solutions of fat-soluble products for injections. In combination with aloe juice and grape juice, sesame oil is taken internally for bronchial asthma and itchy dermatoses. Sesame oil is also used in the food industry. In traditional medicine, sesame seed powder is used as a tonic, antiseptic and anti-inflammatory (externally), and juice from fresh leaves is rubbed into the scalp for dry seborrhea. The seeds are also used to make candies, halva and other oriental sweets. Sesame cake, obtained by cold pressing of seeds, is used for the production of confectionery products, and mixed with wheat flour, it is used for the production of dietary bread.
Medicinal forms and applications . Internally – sesame oil is drunk 1 tablespoon at a time, and children – 1 teaspoon at a time 3 times a day before meals;
powder from seeds is taken 15-20 g (with water) 3 times a day before meals.