Sesame indicum oil (inci)

Sesame indicum oil is the oil obtained by cold pressing from the seeds of the sesame plant. The cold-pressed sesame oil is a pale yellow, largely odorless and tasteless oil.

Glycerides of oleic acid (30-50%), linoleic acid (35-50%), stearic acid (3.0-6.0%), palmitic and arachidic acid. Sesame oil contains small traces of the phenolic lignan derivatives sesamin (3,4-methylenedioxyphenol) and sesamol, which belong to the phytoestrogens, as well as traces of carvacrol. Despite the high content of unsaturated fatty acids, sesamine and sesamoline provide an excellent oxidative stability of the oil. It has therefore been proven that virgin oil is oxidatively more stable than refined qualities.

Nutrition: Sesame oil is used as an edible oil in Asian and oriental cuisine. Furthermore the oil is used for the production of margarine.

Ayurveda: Sesame oil plays an important role as warming and detoxifying oil in Ayurvedic medicine. It is used for example for the forehead oil cast.

Cosmetics: Sesame indicum oil is used in cosmetic formulations. The oil acts as an emollient (makes the skin smooth and supple), hair conditioner (makes the hair easy to comb, smooth, soft and shiny and gives it volume). Furthermore, the oil has a masking effect (reduces or inhibits an undesirable inherent smell or taste of the product) and as a skin care product (keeps the skin in good condition). The (natural) light protection of the cold-pressed sesame oil seems to be very low.

1. Ammon H et al (2014). Sesame indicum. In: Hunnius Pharmaceutical Dictionary. Walter de Gruyter GmbH Berlin/Boston S 1638