Sesamol is a natural
organic compound
In chemistry, organic compounds are generally any chemical compounds that contain carbon-hydrogen or carbon-carbon bonds. Due to carbon's ability to catenate (form chains with other carbon atoms), millions of organic compounds are known. The ...
which is a component of
sesame seeds
Sesame ( or ; ''Sesamum indicum'') is a flowering plant in the genus ''Sesamum'', also called benne. Numerous wild relatives occur in Africa and a smaller number in India. It is widely naturalized in tropical regions around the world and is cu ...
and
sesame oil
Sesame oil is an edible vegetable oil derived from sesame seeds. The oil is one of the earliest-known crop-based oils. Worldwide mass modern production is limited due to the inefficient manual harvesting process required to extract the oil. O ...
, with anti-
inflammatory,
antioxidant
Antioxidants are compounds that inhibit oxidation, a chemical reaction that can produce free radicals. This can lead to polymerization and other chain reactions. They are frequently added to industrial products, such as fuels and lubricant ...
,
antidepressant
Antidepressants are a class of medication used to treat major depressive disorder, anxiety disorders, chronic pain conditions, and to help manage addictions. Common side-effects of antidepressants include dry mouth, weight gain, dizziness, hea ...
and
neuroprotective
Neuroprotection refers to the relative preservation of neuronal structure and/or function. In the case of an ongoing insult (a neurodegenerative insult) the relative preservation of neuronal integrity implies a reduction in the rate of neuronal los ...
properties. It is a white crystalline solid that is a derivative of
phenol
Phenol (also called carbolic acid) is an aromatic organic compound with the molecular formula . It is a white crystalline solid that is volatile. The molecule consists of a phenyl group () bonded to a hydroxy group (). Mildly acidic, it req ...
. It is sparingly soluble in water, but miscible with most oils. It can be produced by organic synthesis from
heliotropine.
Sesamol has been found to be an antioxidant that may prevent the spoilage of oils.
It also may prevent the spoilage of oils by acting as an antifungal.
It can be used in the synthesis of
paroxetine
Paroxetine, sold under the brand names Paxil and Seroxat among others, is an antidepressant of the selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) class. It is used to treat major depressive disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder, panic disorder ...
.
Sesamol's molecular targets and mechanism of action, at least for its antidepressant-like effects, is found to be through the brain
nerve growth factor
Nerve growth factor (NGF) is a neurotrophic factor and neuropeptide primarily involved in the regulation of growth, maintenance, proliferation, and survival of certain target neurons. It is perhaps the prototypical growth factor, in that it was on ...
(NGF) and
endocannabinoid signalling under the regulatory drive of the
CB1 receptors.
Alexander Shulgin
Alexander Theodore "Sasha" Shulgin (June 17, 1925 – June 2, 2014) was an American medicinal chemist, biochemist, organic chemist, pharmacologist, psychopharmacologist, and author. He is credited with introducing 3,4-methylenedioxymethamph ...
used sesamol in his book
PiHKAL to make
MMDA-2
MMDA-2 (2-methoxy-4,5-methylenedioxyamphetamine) is a psychedelic drug of the amphetamine class. It is closely related to MMDA and MDA.
Alexander Shulgin was likely the first to synthesize MMDA-2. In his book '' PiHKAL'', the dose is listed as ...
.
See also
*
Sesamin
Sesamin is a lignan isolated from the bark of ''Fagara'' plants and from sesame oil. It has been used as a dietary fat-reduction supplement. Its major metabolite is enterolactone, which has an elimination half life of less than 6 hours. Sesamin an ...
and
sesamolin
Sesamolin is a lignan isolated from sesame oil. Sesamin
Sesamin is a lignan isolated from the bark of ''Fagara'' plants and from sesame oil
Sesame oil is an edible vegetable oil derived from sesame seeds. The oil is one of the earliest-k ...
, two lignans found in sesame oil
References
{{reflist
Natural phenols
Phenol antioxidants
Benzodioxoles
Sesame