Protein Utilization, Immune Function, and Hepatic Antioxidant Activity of Syrian Hamster Rats Fed Tahini in Combination with Other Oily Seeds

Sumainah G,Laban L

doi:10.16966/2470-6086.171

Abstract

Background: Consumption of sesame seed products is increasing worldwide, and sesame may be suitable as a quality protein source for preschool children when combined with other sources of plant proteins.

Highlights

In various parts of the world efforts are being made to increase the consumption of vegetable protein from locally available sources
The oil in sesame is remarkably stable and resistant to oxidative deterioration due to indigenous fat and non-fat antioxidants [4,5,6]. Many of these antioxidants exist as the glucosides of sesamol, sesamin, sesaminol, sesamolinol, and pinoresinol [7]
The protein is exceptionally rich in sulfur-containing amino acids, whereas these building blocks are present at low levels in most other seed proteins [3]

Summary

Introduction

In various parts of the world efforts are being made to increase the consumption of vegetable protein from locally available sources. Tahini, is a traditional food in countries of the Middle-East, where other seed proteins such as the chickpea, soybean, and peanut are locally available. The protein in sesame is low in lysine, but it’s rich in sulfur-containing amino acids in comparison to other seed proteins. In vivo cell-mediated immune function in Syrian hamster rats fed rations in which the protein content was 10% and was either all from sesame paste (S), one-fourth from sesame paste and three-fourths from chickpea (SC), or one-half from sesame paste and one-fourth each from soybean and peanut (SSP). The SC formula containing protein that was 25% from sesame paste and 75% from chickpea is of good quality, supported normal cell-mediated immune function, and raised hepatic antioxidant level in comparison to the casein controls. Conclusion: Sesame seeds products such as Tahini can play an important role as antioxidants especially for the hepatic functions

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