Sesamol is a natural phenolic compound extracted from the natural plant sesame (Sesamum indicum L.). Studies have shown that Sesamol has biological effects such as liver protection, antimicrobial, neuro- and cardioprotection, anti-inflammatory, anticonvulsant, anti-anxiety, wound healing, beauty (whitening), anti-cancer and antioxidant effects, and is a good and healthy nutritional supplement.

Sesamol can also be used as an alternative cosmeceutical. Studies have found that Sesamol has certain benefits in antioxidant, anti-melanin and skin protection.

Antioxidant effect

Sesamol has strong antioxidant and free radical scavenging activity. It has a high scavenging rate for 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl hydrate (DPPH-) free radicals, with an IC50 value of less than 14.48 μM. The antioxidant capacity (ferric reduction antioxidant capacity value) of 0.1129 μM Sesamol is 189.88 ± 17.56 μM FeSO4. Sesamol has an IC50 value of 6.15 ± 0.2 μM for inhibiting lipid peroxidation.

Antimelanin and whitening effects

Melanin is synthesized through a series of oxidation reactions initiated by tyrosine and catalyzed by melanogenesis-related proteins such as tyrosinase, tyrosinase-related protein 1 (TRP-1), dopachrome tautomerase (TRP-2), and microphthalmia-related transcription factor (MITF).

Sesamol inhibits melanin synthesis through multiple mechanisms of action. It can also inhibit cellular tyrosinase at a concentration of 217.2 μM with an inhibition rate of 23.55 ± 8.25%. Compared with the positive controls kojic acid and β-arbutin, sesamol has high antioxidant and anti-tyrosinase activities and is a good whitening ingredient.

Skin protection effect

Sesamol can also reduce ultraviolet-induced epidermal hyperplasia and dermal collagen degradation. In immunohistochemical staining, topical application of sesamol reduced the expression of tyrosinase, TRP-1, TRP-2, and MITF in the UVB-induced skin epidermis.

In addition, sesamol can be used to prevent and treat skin cancer due to its significant antioxidant potential. The role of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in skin carcinogenesis is well established. In vivo anticancer studies on TPA-induced and benzo(a)pyrene-triggered epidermal tumorigenesis in mice (ROS-mediated) showed that the induced skin cancer (in histological studies) normalized after treatment with sesamol-carried solid lipid nanoparticles (S-SLN).

References:

[1] KHATOON S. AN INSIGHT INTO SESAMOL: PHARMACOLOGICAL ACTIVITIES, AND FUTURE RESEARCH PROSPECTS[J]. INTERANTIONAL JOURNAL OF SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH IN ENGINEERING AND MANAGEMENT, 2022, 16 1. DOI:10.55041/ijsrem12343.

[2] MONTRA SRISAYAM. Antioxidant, antimelanogenic, and skin-protective effect of sesamol.[J]. Journal of cosmetic science, 2014, 65 2: 69-79.

[3] AMIN F. MAJDALAWIEH  Zeenah R M. Sesamol, a major lignan in sesame seeds (Sesamum indicum): Anti-cancer properties and mechanisms of action[J]. European journal of pharmacology, 2019, 855: Pages 75-89. DOI:10.1016/j.ejphar.2019.05.008.

[4] YA-JHEN YOU. Sesamol Inhibited Ultraviolet Radiation-Induced Hyperpigmentation and Damage in C57BL/6 Mouse Skin.[C]//8 7. 2019. DOI:10.3390/antiox8070207.