BACKGROUND Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is an autoimmune disease that causes chronic synovitis, cartilage degradation and bone deformities. Synovitis is the term for inflammation of the synovial membrane, an early stage of RA. The pathogenesis of the disease occurs through cytokine induction. The major cytokine that increases the severity of RA is TNF-α. Thus, inhibition of the TNF-α cascade is an...

Sesamin, the major lignan found in sesame, has been shown to increase vitamin E levels by inhibiting its metabolism via the cytochrome P450 isozyme CYP4F2. CYP4F2 and CYP4A11 are the predominant human isoforms that synthesize 20-hydroxyeicosatetraenoic acid (20-HETE) from arachidonic acid. Considerable evidence suggests that 20-HETE may play a role in the pathogenesis of hypertension. We hypoth...

The effects of four alkaloids on the biosynthesis of ochratoxin A (OTA), ochratoxin B (OTB) and citrinin were examined on four OTA-producing aspergilli: Aspergillus auricomus, A. sclerotiorum and two isolates of A. alliaceus. Piperine and piperlongumine, natural alkaloids of Piper longum, significantly inhibited OTA production at 0.001% (w/v) for all aspergilli examined. Piperine and piperlongu...

Sesame (Sesamum indicum L.) seeds have been grown in tropical regions throughout the world since prehistoric times. Sesame seed, a rich source of protein, is one of the fi rst crops processed for oil production. Its non-culinary application includes its use as an ingredient in soap, cosmetics, lubricants and medicines. Sesame seeds also contain two unique substances: sesamin and sesamolin known...

Sesamum indicum (black seasame) is a plant growing and cultivated in Africa, India and Asia including some parts of Iran. This plant was used in Iranian folk medicine for their digestive, carminative, antispasmodic, sedative, analgesic, tonic and diuretic as well as for functional gastrointestinal disorders. The aim of this study was to overview its bioactive properties. This review article was...

We compared the physiological activities of sesame seeds rich in lignans from three varieties (Gomazou, Maruhime and Maruemon), and those from a conventional cultivar (Masekin) in rats. The sum of the values of fat-soluble lignans (sesamin and sesamolin) in seeds of Gomazou, Maruhime and Maruemon varieties was approximately double the value in Masekin. Seeds from Maruemon contained fat-soluble ...

acid (EPA, 20 :5, n-3). In this study, we inyestigated the interaction of sesamin and EPA on A5 desaturation of both series and the n-61n-3 fatty acids ratio by measuring actural fatty acid contents in vivo. Rats vvere fed three types of dietary oils; 1) lino]eic a id (LA, 18:2, n-6); linolenic a id (LLA, 18:3, n-3)= 3:1, n-61n-3 ratio of 3:1 (LA group), 2) LA:LLA =1:3, n-6fn-3 ratio of 1:3 (LL...

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