Sesamin increases heme oxygenase-1 protein in RAW 264.7 macrophages through inhibiting its ubiquitination process

Effects of sesame (Sesamum indicum L.) and bioactive compounds (sesamin and sesamolin) on inflammation and atherosclerosis: A review

Inflammation, oxidative stress, obesity, infection, hyperlipidemia, hypertension, and diabetes are the main causes of atherosclerosis, which in the long term lead to hardening of the arteries. In the current study, we reviewed recent findings of the mechanism of sesame and its active compounds of sesamin and sesamolin regulates on atherosclerosis. Sesame can decrease the lipid peroxidation and affect the enzymes, which control the balance of oxidative status in the body. Besides modulating the inflammatory cytokines, sesame regulates the main mediators of the signaling pathways in the process of inflammation, such as prostaglandin E2 (PGE2), nuclear factor kappa light-chain enhancer of activated B cells (NF-kB) and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPAR-γ). Sesame decreases the growth of different pathogens. It fights against obesity and helps to reduce weight, body mass index (BMI), waist circumference, and lipid count of serum and liver. In addition to lowering fasting blood sugar (FBS), it decreases the hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) and glucose levels and improves insulin function. With high content of linoleic acid, α-linolenic acid, and total polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA), sesame efficiently controls the blood plasma lipids and changes the lipid profile. In the case of hypertension, it maintains the health of endothelium through multiple mechanisms and conserves the response of the arteries to vasodilation. PUFA in sesame suppresses blood clotting and fibrinogen activity. All the mentioned properties combat atherosclerosis and hardening of blood vessels, which are detailed in the present review for sesame.

USP7 regulates HMOX-1 via deubiquitination to suppress ferroptosis and ameliorate spinal cord injury in rats

Heme oxygenase 1 (HMOX-1) is overexpressed in spinal cord injury (SCI) and relevant to ferroptosis. Ubiquitin-specific-processing protease 7 (USP7) has unveiled its role in regulating HMOX-1 stabilization while its function in SCI remains unknown. This study is to explore the potential molecular mechanism of the USP7-HMOX-1 axis in ferroptosis in a SCI rat model. SCI was assessed with Basso, Beattie, Bresnahan locomotion evaluation, hematoxylin-eosin histological staining, and immunofluorescence detection of NeuN. Ferroptosis was assessed by detections of the iron content, malondialdehyde and glutathione levels, mitochondrial damage, and glutathione peroxidase 4, 4-hydroxynonenal, USP7, and HMOX-1 expression in spinal cord. Co-immunoprecipitation was used to detect the binding of USP7 to HMOX-1. The ubiquitination level of HMOX-1 was measured after USP7 overexpression. USP7 expression was downregulated and HMOX-1 expression was upregulated in SCI rat models. HMOX-1 or USP7 overexpression promoted motor function recovery, ameliorated spinal cord damage, increased NeuN expression, and blocked the occurrence of ferroptosis in SCI rat models. In SCI rats, USP7 directly bound to HMOX-1 and its overexpression promoted HMOX-1 expression via deubiquitination. To sum up, USP7 overexpression facilitated the expression of HMOX-1 through deubiquitination, thereby reducing ferroptosis and alleviating SCI.

A Comprehensive Review on Distribution, Pharmacological Properties, and Mechanisms of Action of Sesamin

Sesamin is a kind of fat-soluble lignan extracted from sesame seeds or other plants. It has attracted more and more attention because of its extensive pharmacological activities. In this study, we systematically summarized the pharmacological activities of sesamin including antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anticancer, protection of liver and kidney, prevention of diabetes, hypertension, and atherosclerosis. Studies focus on the abilities of sesamin to attenuate oxidative stress by reducing the levels of ROS and MDA, to inhibit the release of pro-inflammatory cytokines (TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-6, etc.), and to induce apoptosis and autophagy in cancer cells through a variety of signaling pathways such as NF-κB, JNK, p38 MAPK, PI3K/AKT, caspase-3, and p53. By inhibiting the production of ROS, sesamin can also enhance the biological activities of NO in blood vessels, improve endothelial dysfunction and hypertension, and change the process of atherosclerotic lesion formation. In line with this, the various pharmacological properties of sesamin have been discussed in this review so that we can have a deeper understanding of the pharmacological activities of sesamin and clear the future development direction of sesamin.

Pharmacological Properties to Pharmacological Insight of Sesamin in Breast Cancer Treatment: A Literature-Based Review Study

The use of dietary phytochemical rather than conventional therapies to treat numerous cancers is now a well-known approach in medical science. Easily available and less toxic dietary phytochemicals present in plants should be introduced in the list of phytochemical-based treatment areas. Sesamin, a natural phytochemical, may be a promising chemopreventive agent aiming to manage breast cancer. In this study, we discussed the pharmacological properties of sesamin that determine its therapeutics opportunity to be used in breast cancer treatment and other diseases. Sesamin is available in medicinal plants, especially in Sesamum indicum, and is easily metabolized by the liver. To better understand the antibreast cancer consequence of sesamin, we postulate some putative pathways related to the antibreast cancer mechanism: (1) regulation of estrogen receptor (ER-α and ER-β) activities, (2) suppressing programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) overexpression, (3) growth factor receptor inhibition, and (4) some tyrosine kinase pathways. Targeting these pathways, sesamin can modulate cell proliferation, cell cycle arrest, cell growth and viability, metastasis, angiogenesis, apoptosis, and oncogene inactivation in various in vitro and animal models. Although the actual tumor intrinsic signaling mechanism targeted by sesamin in cancer treatment is still unknown, this review summarized that this phytoestrogen suppressed NF-κB, STAT, MAPK, and PIK/AKT signaling pathways and activated some tumor suppressor protein in numerous breast cancer models. Cotreatment with γ-tocotrienol, conventional drugs, and several drug carriers systems increased the anticancer potentiality of sesamin. Furthermore, sesamin exhibited promising pharmacokinetics properties with less toxicity in the bodies. Overall, the shreds of evidence highlight that sesamin can be a potent candidate to design drugs against breast cancer. So, like other phytochemicals, sesamin can be consumed for better therapeutic advantages due to having the ability to target a plethora of molecular pathways until clinically trialed standard drugs are not available in pharma markets.

The Impact of Whole Sesame Seeds on the Expression of Key-Genes Involved in the Innate Immunity of Dairy Goats

Whole sesame seeds (WSS) are rich in both linoleic acid (LA) and lignans. However, their impact on the innate immunity of goats is not well studied. Twenty-four goats were divided into three homogeneous sub-groups; comprise one control (CON) and two treated (WWS5 and WWS10). In the treated groups, WSS were incorporated in the concentrates of the CON at 5 (WSS5) and 10% (WSS10) respectively, by partial substitution of both soybean meal and corn grain. The expression levels of MAPK1, IL6, TRIF, IFNG, TRAF3, and JUND genes in the neutrophils of WSS10 fed goats were reduced significantly compared with the CON. The same was found for the expression levels of IFNG and TRAF3 genes in the neutrophils of WSS5 fed goats. Both treated groups primarily affected the MYD88-independent pathway. The dietary supplementation of goats with WSS might be a good nutritional strategy to improve their innate immunity.

Anti-Inflammatory and Anticancer Properties of Bioactive Compounds from Sesamum indicum L.-A Review

The use of foodstuff as natural medicines has already been established through studies demonstrating the pharmacological activities that they exhibit. Knowing the nutritional and pharmacological significance of foods enables the understanding of their role against several diseases. Among the foods that can potentially be considered as medicine, is sesame or Sesamum indicum L., which is part of the Pedaliaceae family and is composed of its lignans such as sesamin, sesamol, sesaminol and sesamolin. Its lignans have been widely studied and are known to possess antiaging, anticancer, antidiabetes, anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. Modern chronic diseases, which can transform into clinical diseases, are potential targets of these lignans. The prime example of chronic diseases is rheumatic inflammatory diseases, which affect the support structures and the organs of the body and can also develop into malignancies. In line with this, studies emphasizing the anti-inflammatory and anticancer activities of sesame have been discussed in this review.