Abstract
“Gomazou” is an improved high-lignan breed of sesame which contains large amounts of sesamin and sesamolin. The object of this study was to identify new lignans other than sesamin, sesamolin and lignan glycosides, and to determine changes in their levels and functions. For comparison of different types of sesame seed, we used Gomazou, Kanto No. 1 and Chinese white sesame seeds. The contents of sesamin and sesamolin in Gomazou were 848mg/100g and 280mg/100g, respectively, which are 2.1 and 1.3 times higher than those of Kanto No. 1. Kanto No. 1 had a higher sesaminol content than Gomazou. Treatment with 1N-HCl to analyze the bond type of lignan revealed an increase in the peak numbers and areas of polar compounds in Gomazou. The content of sesaminol in Gomazou was 1.6 times that of Kanto No. 1. These results suggest that Gomazou contains a larger amount of lignan glucosides than Kanto No. 1. The contents of sesamin and sesamolin decreased and those of polar compounds increased after germination, and DPPH radical scavenging activities, SOD activities and ORAC values in methanol extracts were enhanced. Polar compounds were correlated (correlation coefficient=0.849, p<0.01) with DPPH radical scavenging activity. Analysis by LC-MS revealed that among the six main lignan compounds whose contents increased, five were known compounds and another was an unknown compound that showed DPPH radical scavenging activity.
