Sesamum indicum - Sesame, Snehaphala

Sesame

Sesame is a variable, erect, annual plant hat can grow from 1 - 3 metres tall. Plants can be branched or unbranched. The root system has a strongly tapering taproot up to 90cm long. The plant has been cultivated for its edible seed and oil since at least 2,000 BC, and is still widely grown in tropical and warm temperate zones

Uses

Infant cholera, Diarrhoea, Dysentery, Catarrh, Bladder, Kidneys problems, Liver problems, Premature hair loss, Greying of hair, Convalescence, Chronic dry constipation, Dental caries, Osteoporosis, Stiff joints, Dry cough, Hemorrhoids, Ulcer, Asthma, Cough.

Parts Used

Seeds, Leaves.

Chemical Composition

It contains the major unsaturated fatty acids were linoleic acid (46.9%) followed by oleic acid (37.4%), while the main saturated fatty acid was palmitic acid (9.1%). Sesame seed oil was also found to be rich in tocopherols with a predominance of γ-tocopherol (90.5%). The phytosterol marker β-sitosterol accounted for 59.9% of total sterols contained in sesame seed oil.

Common names

Language	Common name
Kannada	Achhellu, Ellu, Kari ellu
Hindi	Tir
Malayalam	Karuellu
Tamil	Caralam, Caralam, Carali, Caralicceti, Cinekapalacceti
Telugu	Gubbulu, Guvvulu,
Marathi	NA
Gujarathi	NA
Punjabi	NA
Kashmiri	NA
Sanskrit	Snehaphala, Tila, Tilaha, Tilataila
English	Gingelly, Sesame

Properties

Reference: Dravya - Substance, Rasa - Taste, Guna - Qualities, Veerya - Potency, Vipaka - Post-digesion effect, Karma - Pharmacological activity, Prabhava - Therepeutics.

Habit

Herb

Identification

Leaf

Kind	Shape	Feature
variable	alternate	Leaf Arrangementis Alternate-spiral

Flower

Type	Size	Color and composition	Stamen	More information
bell	2-4cm long	white to pale-rose		flowers begin to develop in the leaf axils 6 to 8 weeks after planting and this continues for several weeks

Fruit

Type	Size	Mass	Appearance	Seeds	More information
deeply grooved capsule	1 to 3 inch			50 to 100 or more seeds	The seeds mature 4 to 6 weeks after fertilization

List of Ayurvedic medicine in which the herb is used

• Ballātakādi Modaka

Mode of Propagation

Seeds

How to plant/cultivate

Sesame can be grown from the warm temperate zone to the tropics, so long as there is a growing season of at least 5 months. In the tropics it can be grown at elevations up to 1,500 metres.

Commonly seen growing in areas

Tropical area, Plain area, Along roadsides, Along waste lands.

Photo Gallery

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External Links

• Sesame on pfaf.org
• Sesame on tropical plants
• Sesame on britannica.com