Effect of sesame seeds rich in sesamin and sesamolin on fatty acid oxidation in rat liver

Activities of enzymes involved in hepatic fatty acid oxidation and synthesi s among rats fed sesame (Sesamum indicum L.) differing in lignan content (s esamin and sesamolin) were compared. Sesame seeds rich in lignans from two lines, 0730 and 0732, lines established in this laborary, and those from a conventional cultivar (Masekin) were employed. Seeds from the 0730 and 0732 lines contained sesamin and sesamolin at amounts twice those from Masekin. Sesame seeds were added at levels of 200 g/kg to the experimental diets. S esame increased both the hepatic mitochondrial and the peroxisomal fatty ac id oxidation rate. Increases were greater with sesame rich in lignans than with Maskin. Noticeably, peroxisomal activity levels were >3 times higher i n rats fed diets containing sesame seeds from the 0730 and 0732 lines than in those fed a control diet without sesame. The diet containing Masekin see d caused only a 50% increase in the value, however. Diets containing seeds from the 0730 and 0732 lines, compared to the control and Masekin diets, al so significantly increased the activity of hepatic fatty acid oxidation enz ymes including acyl-CoA oxidase, carnitine palmitoyltranferase, 3-hydroxyac yl-CoA dehydrogenase, and 3-ketoacyl-CoA thiolase. In contrast, diets conta ining sesame lowered the activity of enzymes involved in fatty acid synthes is including fatty acid synthase, glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase, ATP-ci trate lyase, and pyruvate kinase. No significant differences in enzyme acti vities were, however, seen among diets containing sesame from Masekin culti var and lines 0730 and 0732. Serum triacylglycerol concentrations were lowe r in rats fed diets containing sesame from lines 0730 and 0732 than in thos e fed the control or Masekin diet. It is apparent that sesame rich in ligna ns more profoundly affects hepatic fatty acid oxidation and serum triacylgl ycerol levels. Therefore, consumption of sesame rich in lignans results in physiological activity to alter lipid metabolism in a potentially beneficia l manner.