**1. Introduction**

Numerous studies have already been able to prove that different kinds of food are capable for acting against several types of diseases due to their various medicinal properties. *Sesamum indicum* L., more commonly referred to as sesame, is one of the foods that are known to exhibit pharmacological applications. Sesame, from the Pedaliaceae family [1], has been known way back several decades ago (1600 BC), and is originated from Indonesia according to the Hindu legends. Sesame is considered as one of the oldest condiments in the human history [2,3]. In line with this, sesame is one of the first crops to produce oil [4]. Its herbal medicinal property was first discovered in China and India during

the 8th century BC, and is believed to relieve toothaches, to give energy, to prevent aging, to sooth the mind and body and to treat bites of insects [5,6]. The largest area of sesame cultivation is found in India and provides 27.9% of the world's sesame [7]. Some countries also cultivate sesame especially in the tropical countries of Africa and Asia [8].

Majority of the sesame lignans are found in the sesame seeds. Sesame seeds comprise of 50% oil and 25% protein and the rest are sugars, moisture, fibers and minerals [9,10]. There are four commonly known sesame lignans namely, sesamin, sesamol, sesaminol and sesamolin. These sesame lignans (Figure 1) are known for its various biological activities and applications. Sesamin, a furfuran lignan, plays a role in scavenging free radicals and lipid and glucose metabolism. Sesamol possess high antioxidant activity, which involves membrane protection from peroxidation of lipids [11,12]. Sesaminol exhibits inhibitory property against membrane lipid peroxidation and improves the tocopherols availability of vitamin E through enhancement of concentrations of liver and plasma [13,14]. Sesamolin upregulates the rate of peroxisomal fatty acid oxidation and hepatic mitochondrial and has a synergistic effect on pyrethrum insecticides [15–17]. Not only is sesame oil abundant in sesame seeds, but sesame oil also has excellent quality nutrition and stability [18]. Among other vegetable oils, sesame oil has many uses and has high therapeutic values, which make it interesting to study. The presence of sesame lignans such as sesamin, sesamol, sesamolin and other acylglycerols (oleic acid, linoleic acid, palmitic acid, stearic acid and arachidic acid) in sesame oil contributes to its distinct properties [19,20]. This paper presents an in-depth review on the anti-inflammatory and anti-cancer properties of sesame.

**Figure 1.** Chemical Structures of *Sesamum indicum* L. lignans.
