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Sesame (Sesamum indicum L.) is a worldwide cultivated oil crop that belongs to the family Pedaliaceae. Sesame seeds possess high nutritional value, enriching fats, proteins, carbohydrates, and vitamins. Various phytochemical constituents are found in sesame seeds and/or oil, such as phenolic acids, flavonoids, phytosterols, tocopherols, phospholipids, and unique class of lignans such as sesamin and sesamolin, showing specific health potential to the human body (antioxidant, antimutagenic, estrogenic, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial and hypolipidemic). Bioavailability is composed of two components: bioactivity and bioaccessibility. However, because phytochemicals are treated by the body as xenobiotics, their bioavailability is poor, and their presence in the body is temporary. Although specific methods for determining phytochemical bioavailability in sesame are being established using both in vitro and in vivo approaches, the results are still inconclusive. Several factors will impact bioavailability in the human body, including molecular structure, transport mechanisms, and food-drug interactions. To improve the bioavailability of phytochemicals in sesame and thereby enhance the bioactivities, specific methods such as the application of sesamol solid lipid nanoparticles, the application of colloidal systems, and changing the solubility of phytosterols will be discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sesame (Sesamum indicum L.) is an oilseed crop and rich in various bioactive compounds including phenolics, phytosterols, and vitamins. In this study, phenolic compounds were extracted from three varieties of sesame seeds (black, brown, and white) to determine the antioxidant activities and bioaccessibility of selected phenolic compounds during in vitro digestion and colonic fermentation. The SCFAs production was also estimated. Black sesame seeds performed the highest total phenolic content (TPC) (2.69 mg GAE/g) and antioxidant capacities during gastrointestinal digestion. During colonic fermentation, black and brown sesame seeds exhibited relatively higher TPC (4.13 mg GAE/g) and antioxidant activities (DPPH: 8.6 mg TE/g; FRAP: 4.1 mg TE/g). Kaempferol was the lowest bioaccessible phenolic compound presented in all three sesame seeds, which relied more on the action of gut microbiota. White sesame seeds displayed higher production of individual and total SCFAs followed by black sesame seeds, which could be beneficial to gut health. Novelty impact statement: Black and brown sesame seeds showed relatively higher content of phenolic compounds and remarkable antioxidant potential during in vitro gastrointestinal digestion and colonic fermentation.The bioaccessibility of phenolic compounds present in brown and white sesame seeds was relatively higher than in black sesame seeds.Most of the detected phenolic compounds in selected sesame seeds were fully bioaccessible after 24 h of colonic fermentation, except kaempferol.White and black sesame seeds showed higher production of SCFAs, which would be more beneficial to gut health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]