Phytochemical and Ethnopharmacological Review of Till Safeed (Sesamum indicum Linn.)

Abstract

Within the management of health care, the traditional system of medicine remains indispensable. The Unani system of medicine treats a variety of illnesses with a range of medications derived from plants. Historically, people have utilized sesamum indicum seeds as a medicinal ingredient. Various parts of the plant have been used by traditional physicians. However, the dried seed and oil are commonly used as Till in Unani Medicine. The plant has a very long history of use as a medicinal herb. It can be used on its own or in compound pharmacopeial compositions with other medications. Till Safeed is an annual plant of family Pedaliaceae and this review article aims to describe morphological characteristics, phytochemistry, ethnobotanical uses and therapeutic properties of Till Safeed. So that subsequent study on any novel therapeutic activity based on phytochemistry can be conducted with greater simplicity and to support the revalidation of the drug's scientifically claimed actions as mentioned in classical literatures. We systematically searched classical Unani literature, online data sources (PubMed, Google scholar, Elsevier, Science Direct and Research Gate) and offline encyclopaedia and books on medicinal plants for the relevant data on Till Safeed. Polyunsaturated fatty acids, phytosterols, tocopherols, essential minerals, and a special class of phenylpropanoid chemicals called lignans—which include sesamin, sesamol, and sesamolin—are among the bioactive ingredients found in till seeds. The pharmacological characteristics of sesame lignans include. Antioxidant, antibacterial, antiproliferative, cholesterol-lowering, hepatic fatty acid oxidation enzyme-increasing, and anti-hypertensive properties. Keywords: Sesamum indicum, Unani Medicine, phytochemistry, sesamin, sesamolin.