Details Top

Internal ID UUID6440042365ad1852934923
Scientific name Sesamum alatum
Authority Thonn.
First published in Beskr. Guin. Pl. : 284 (1827)

Ethnobotanical Use Top

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General Uses Top

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Common products:
The seeds of Sesamum alatum yield a pale yellow, nutty-scented oil on pressing or solvent extraction. Oil content is typically 38–50% of seed dry weight depending on accession and origin. The oil is rich in linoleic acid and also contains oleic and saturated fatty acids (palmitic, stearic), giving it a liquid texture and suitable stability for culinary use.

Food and beverages (non-medicinal):
The seed oil is used as an edible oil for cooking, frying, and as an ingredient in traditional foods. Seeds may be ground as a meal or flour, optionally after dehulling, for inclusion in breads or other baked goods. Flavor is described as mild, nutty. The oil’s high linoleic acid content and typical iodine value confer low viscosity, allowing it to function in ways analogous to other vegetable oils.

Industrial and craft applications:
The fatty-acid profile (substantial linoleic acid with supporting levels of oleic acid) confers a moderate rate of oxidative drying suitable for use in alkyd resins and oil-based paints. Oil can be polymerized or modified to produce drying oils, making it useful in inks and protective coatings.

Properties relevant to use:
- High seed oil content; documented yields from multiple reports around 38–50%.
- Oil is liquid at ambient temperature with typical linoleic acid dominance.
- Oxidation and drying characteristics align with food frying and industrial drying oil applications.
- Processability is straightforward using established oilseed processing methods (cleaning, dehulling, mechanical pressing and/or solvent extraction, degumming/refining as needed).

Sustainability and sourcing:
S. alatum is native to sub-Saharan Africa and the Arabian Peninsula, where it occurs in semi-arid and savanna habitats. Wild harvesting and small-scale cultivation are reported. The species is considered undomesticated relative to S. indicum, and its oilseed use is localized. Interest exists in its potential for diversification under marginal conditions; however, modern agronomic evaluation and formal breeding are limited.

Synonyms Top

Scientific name Authority First published in
Simsimum rostratum Bernh. Linnaea 16: 42 (1842)
Sesamopteris alata DC. ex Meisn. Pl. Vasc. Gen. 2: 206 (1839)
Sesamum ekambaramii Naidu J. Bombay Nat. Hist. Soc. 51: 698 (1953)
Sesamum gracile Endl. Linnaea 7: 10 (1832)
Volkameria alata (Thonn.) Kuntze Revis. Gen. Pl. 2: 482. 1891 [5 Nov 1891]
Sesamum pterospermum R.Br. ex Guill. Dict. Class. Hist. Nat. [Bory] 15: 391 1829
Sesamum sabulosum A.Chev. Études Fl. Afr. Centr. Franç. 1: 229 (1913)
Sesamum rostratum Hochst. Flora 24(1, Intelligenzbl.): 43 (1841)

Common names Top

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Language Common/alternative name
Arabic سمسم جناحي

Subspecies (abbr. subsp./ssp.) Top

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Varieties (abbr. var.) Top

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Subvarieties (abbr. subvar.) Top

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Forms (abbr. f.) Top

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Germination/Propagation Top

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Distribution (via POWO/KEW) Top

Legend for the distribution data:
- Doubtful data
- Extinct
- Introduced
- Native
  • Africa
    • East Tropical Africa
      • Kenya
    • Northeast Tropical Africa
      • Chad
      • Eritrea
      • Ethiopia
      • Sudan
    • Northern Africa
      • Egypt
      • Western Sahara
    • South Tropical Africa
      • Angola
      • Mozambique
      • Zambia
      • Zimbabwe
    • Southern Africa
      • Botswana
      • Caprivi Strip
      • Kwazulu-Natal
      • Namibia
      • Northern Provinces
      • Swaziland
    • West Tropical Africa
      • Benin
      • Burkina
      • Ghana
      • Guinea
      • Mali
      • Mauritania
      • Niger
      • Nigeria
      • Senegal
    • West-central Tropical Africa
      • Cameroon

Links to other databases Top

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Database ID/link to page
World Flora Online wfo-0000497096
Tropicos 50333935
KEW urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:675997-1
The Plant List tro-50333935
IPNI 675997-1
GBIF 3585204
USDA Plants SEAL10
Tropicos 24300027
KEW urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:675950-1
The Plant List kew-2588566
Open Tree Of Life 645082
NCBI Taxonomy 300844
IPNI 675950-1
iNaturalist 468761
GBIF 3172623
EOL 483783
USDA GRIN 33745
Wikipedia Sesamum_alatum

Genomes (via NCBI) Top

Below is displayed the reference genome only!
If you wish to browse all genomes for this plant click here.
Accession Assembly
Name Level Submitter Released Coverage Size
GCA_034509735.1 ASM3450973v1 Scaffold Henan Academy of Agricultural Sciences 2023-12-21 100 503.58 Mb

Scientific Literature Top

Below are displayed the latest 15 articles published in PMC (PubMed Central®) and other sources (DOI number only)!
If you wish to see all the related articles click here.
Title Authors Publication Released IDs
Association of quantitative traits and genetic diversity in Ethiopian sesame (Sesamum indicum L.) genotypes Gedifew S, Demelash H, Abate A, Abebe TD Heliyon 19-Feb-2024
PMCID:PMC10901082
doi:10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e26676
PMID:38420426
Streptinone, a New Indanone Derivative from a Marine-Derived Streptomyces massiliensis, Inhibits Particulate Matter-Induced Inflammation Lee HS, Nagahawatta DP, Jeon YJ, Lee MA, Heo CS, Park SJ, Shin HJ Mar Drugs 14-Dec-2023
PMCID:PMC10744446
doi:10.3390/md21120640
PMID:38132961
Genomic evolution and insights into agronomic trait innovations of Sesamum species Miao H, Wang L, Qu L, Liu H, Sun Y, Le M, Wang Q, Wei S, Zheng Y, Lin W, Duan Y, Cao H, Xiong S, Wang X, Wei L, Li C, Ma Q, Ju M, Zhao R, Li G, Mu C, Tian Q, Mei H, Zhang T, Gao T, Zhang H Plant Commun 05-Oct-2023
PMCID:PMC10811377
doi:10.1016/j.xplc.2023.100729
PMID:37798879
Antiprotozoal activity of natural products from Nigerien plants used in folk medicine Sevik Kilicaslan O, Cretton S, Hausmann E, Quirós-Guerrero L, Karimou S, Kaiser M, Mäser P, Christen P, Cuendet M Front Pharmacol 23-Jun-2023
PMCID:PMC10326435
doi:10.3389/fphar.2023.1190241
PMID:37426806
Insights into chloroplast genome structure and phylogenetic relationships within the Sesamum species complex (Pedaliaceae) Zoclanclounon YA, Thamilarasan SK, Mo Y, Ahn BO, Kim JG, Lee K Front Genet 30-May-2023
PMCID:PMC10267711
doi:10.3389/fgene.2023.1207306
PMID:37323670
The wild allotetraploid sesame genome provides novel insights into evolution and lignan biosynthesis Wang X, Wang S, Lin Q, Lu J, Lv S, Zhang Y, Wang X, Fan W, Liu W, Zhang L, Zhang X, You J, Cui P, Li P J Adv Res 18-Oct-2022
PMCID:PMC10403651
doi:10.1016/j.jare.2022.10.004
PMID:36265763
Momordica balsamina: phytochemistry and pharmacological potential of a gifted species Ramalhete C, Gonçalves BM, Barbosa F, Duarte N, Ferreira MJ Phytochem Rev 08-Feb-2022
PMCID:PMC8821832
doi:10.1007/s11101-022-09802-7
PMID:35153639
A novel motif in the 5’‐UTR of an orphan gene ‘Big Root Biomass’ modulates root biomass in sesame Dossa K, Zhou R, Li D, Liu A, Qin L, Mmadi MA, Su R, Zhang Y, Wang J, Gao Y, Zhang X, You J Plant Biotechnol J 01-Feb-2021
PMCID:PMC8131042
doi:10.1111/pbi.13531
PMID:33369837
(+)‐Sesamin‐oxidising CYP92B14 shapes specialised lignan metabolism in sesame Harada E, Murata J, Ono E, Toyonaga H, Shiraishi A, Hideshima K, Yamamoto MP, Horikawa M Plant J 11-Oct-2020
PMCID:PMC7756453
doi:10.1111/tpj.14989
PMID:32955771
Investigations on diverse sesame (S. indicum L.) germplasm and its wild allies reveal wide variation in antioxidant potential Pathak N, Verma N, Singh A, Bhat KV, Lakhanpaul S Physiol Mol Biol Plants 05-Mar-2020
PMCID:PMC7113330
doi:10.1007/s12298-020-00784-4
PMID:32255933
The wild taxa utilized as vegetables in Sicily (Italy): a traditional component of the Mediterranean diet Geraci A, Amato F, Di Noto G, Bazan G, Schicchi R J Ethnobiol Ethnomed 14-Feb-2018
PMCID:PMC5813353
doi:10.1186/s13002-018-0215-x
PMID:29444678
Value addition in sesame: A perspective on bioactive components for enhancing utility and profitability Pathak N, Rai AK, Kumari R, Bhat KV Pharmacogn Rev 01-Jul-2014
PMCID:PMC4127822
doi:10.4103/0973-7847.134249
PMID:25125886
Formation of two methylenedioxy bridges by a Sesamum CYP81Q protein yielding a furofuran lignan, (+)-sesamin Ono E, Nakai M, Fukui Y, Tomimori N, Fukuchi-Mizutani M, Saito M, Satake H, Tanaka T, Katsuta M, Umezawa T, Tanaka Y Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 19-Jun-2006
PMCID:PMC1502515
doi:10.1073/pnas.0603865103
PMID:16785429
Nuclear DNA Amounts in Angiosperms: Progress, Problems and Prospects BENNETT MD, LEITCH IJ Ann Bot 01-Jan-2005
PMCID:PMC4246708
doi:10.1093/aob/mci003
PMID:15596457
Saponins with an Unusual Secoursene Skeleton from <i>Sesamum alatum</i> T<scp>HONN</scp>. Olivier Potterat, Kurt Hostettmann, Helen Stoeckli‐Evans, Mahamane Saadou Wiley 28-Dec-2004
doi:10.1002/HLCA.19920750318

Phytochemical Profile Top

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Below are displayed the proven (via scientific papers) natural compounds!
You can also contribute to this by clicking here.
Name PubChem ID Canonical SMILES MW Found in Proof
> Lignans, neolignans and related compounds / Furanoid lignans
6-[(3S,3aR,6R,6aR)-6-(3,4,5-trimethoxyphenyl)-1,3,3a,4,6,6a-hexahydrofuro[3,4-c]furan-3-yl]-4-methoxy-1,3-benzodioxole 12697528 Click to see 430.40 unknown https://doi.org/10.1016/0031-9422(92)83664-K
Sesartemin-(+) 3732009 Click to see 430.40 unknown https://doi.org/10.1016/0031-9422(92)83664-K
> Lipids and lipid-like molecules / Prenol lipids / Sesquiterpenoids
(1R,4R,4aS,6S)-6-isothiocyanato-1,6-dimethyl-4-propan-2-yl-2,3,4,4a,5,7-hexahydro-1H-naphthalene 163090601 Click to see CC1CCC(C2C1=CCC(C2)(C)N=C=S)C(C)C 263.40 unknown https://doi.org/10.1002/HLCA.19920750318
> Lipids and lipid-like molecules / Prenol lipids / Terpene glycosides
(2R,3R,4S,5S,6R)-2-[[(1R,2R,4R,4aR,6S,8aR)-2,4-dihydroxy-4,8a-dimethyl-6-prop-1-en-2-yl-1,2,3,4a,5,6,7,8-octahydronaphthalen-1-yl]oxy]-6-(hydroxymethyl)oxane-3,4,5-triol 11144190 Click to see CC(=C)C1CCC2(C(C1)C(CC(C2OC3C(C(C(C(O3)CO)O)O)O)O)(C)O)C 416.50 unknown https://doi.org/10.1002/HLCA.19920750318
2-[(2R,4aR,8aS)-4a-methyl-8-methylidene-8a-[(2S,3R,4S,5S,6R)-3,4,5-trihydroxy-6-(hydroxymethyl)oxan-2-yl]oxy-2,3,4,5,6,7-hexahydro-1H-naphthalen-2-yl]prop-2-enoic acid 11015134 Click to see 412.50 unknown https://doi.org/10.1002/HLCA.19920750318
Alatoside B 101259955 Click to see CC12CCC(CC1C(CC(C2)OC3C(C(C(C(O3)CO)O)O)O)(C)O)C(=C)C(=O)O 430.50 unknown https://doi.org/10.1002/HLCA.19920750318
> Lipids and lipid-like molecules / Prenol lipids / Terpene glycosides / Diterpene glycosides
(1S,2R,4aS,4bR,5'R,6aR,8R,9R,10aR,10bR)-8-[(2R,3R,4S,5S,6R)-4,5-dihydroxy-6-(hydroxymethyl)-3-[(2S,3R,4R,5R,6S)-3,4,5-trihydroxy-6-methyloxan-2-yl]oxyoxan-2-yl]oxy-1,9-dihydroxy-4a,4b,7,7,10a-pentamethyl-5'-[(2S,3R)-3-[(2R,3R,4S,5S,6R)-3,4,5-trihydroxy-6-(hydroxymethyl)oxan-2-yl]oxybutan-2-yl]spiro[3,4,5,6,6a,8,9,10,10b,11-decahydro-1H-chrysene-2,3'-oxolane]-2'-one 163027674 Click to see CC1C(C(C(C(O1)OC2C(C(C(OC2OC3C(CC4(C(C3(C)C)CCC5(C4CC=C6C5(CCC7(C6O)CC(OC7=O)C(C)C(C)OC8C(C(C(C(O8)CO)O)O)O)C)C)C)O)CO)O)O)O)O)O 975.10 unknown https://doi.org/10.1002/HLCA.19920750318
(1S,2R,4aS,4bR,5'R,6aR,8R,9R,10aR,10bR)-8-[(2S,3R,4S,5R)-4,5-dihydroxy-3-[(2S,3R,4R,5R,6S)-3,4,5-trihydroxy-6-methyloxan-2-yl]oxyoxan-2-yl]oxy-1,9-dihydroxy-4a,4b,7,7,10a-pentamethyl-5'-[(2S,3R)-3-[(2R,3R,4S,5S,6R)-3,4,5-trihydroxy-6-(hydroxymethyl)oxan-2-yl]oxybutan-2-yl]spiro[3,4,5,6,6a,8,9,10,10b,11-decahydro-1H-chrysene-2,3'-oxolane]-2'-one 163031059 Click to see CC1C(C(C(C(O1)OC2C(C(COC2OC3C(CC4(C(C3(C)C)CCC5(C4CC=C6C5(CCC7(C6O)CC(OC7=O)C(C)C(C)OC8C(C(C(C(O8)CO)O)O)O)C)C)C)O)O)O)O)O)O 945.10 unknown https://doi.org/10.1002/HLCA.19920750318
8-[4,5-dihydroxy-3-(3,4,5-trihydroxy-6-methyloxan-2-yl)oxyoxan-2-yl]oxy-1,9-dihydroxy-4a,4b,7,7,10a-pentamethyl-5'-[3-[3,4,5-trihydroxy-6-(hydroxymethyl)oxan-2-yl]oxybutan-2-yl]spiro[3,4,5,6,6a,8,9,10,10b,11-decahydro-1H-chrysene-2,3'-oxolane]-2'-one 163031058 Click to see CC1C(C(C(C(O1)OC2C(C(COC2OC3C(CC4(C(C3(C)C)CCC5(C4CC=C6C5(CCC7(C6O)CC(OC7=O)C(C)C(C)OC8C(C(C(C(O8)CO)O)O)O)C)C)C)O)O)O)O)O)O 945.10 unknown https://doi.org/10.1002/HLCA.19920750318
8-[4,5-dihydroxy-6-(hydroxymethyl)-3-(3,4,5-trihydroxy-6-methyloxan-2-yl)oxyoxan-2-yl]oxy-1,9-dihydroxy-4a,4b,7,7,10a-pentamethyl-5'-[3-[3,4,5-trihydroxy-6-(hydroxymethyl)oxan-2-yl]oxybutan-2-yl]spiro[3,4,5,6,6a,8,9,10,10b,11-decahydro-1H-chrysene-2,3'-oxolane]-2'-one 163027673 Click to see CC1C(C(C(C(O1)OC2C(C(C(OC2OC3C(CC4(C(C3(C)C)CCC5(C4CC=C6C5(CCC7(C6O)CC(OC7=O)C(C)C(C)OC8C(C(C(C(O8)CO)O)O)O)C)C)C)O)CO)O)O)O)O)O 975.10 unknown https://doi.org/10.1002/HLCA.19920750318
> Lipids and lipid-like molecules / Prenol lipids / Terpene glycosides / Iridoid O-glycosides
Shanzhiside Methyl Ester 13892722 Click to see 406.40 unknown https://doi.org/10.1002/HLCA.19920750318
Shanzhiside-methylester 3085296 Click to see 406.40 unknown https://doi.org/10.1002/HLCA.19920750318
> Organic oxygen compounds / Organooxygen compounds / Alcohols and polyols / Secondary alcohols / Cyclohexanols
Npc213368 363707 Click to see 160.21 unknown https://doi.org/10.1002/HLCA.19920750318
> Organic oxygen compounds / Organooxygen compounds / Carbohydrates and carbohydrate conjugates / Glycosyl compounds / O-glycosyl compounds
(1S,2R,4aS,4bR,5'R,6aR,8R,9R,10aR,10bR)-8-[(2S,3R,4S,5R)-4,5-dihydroxy-3-[(2S,3R,4R,5R,6S)-3,4,5-trihydroxy-6-methyloxan-2-yl]oxyoxan-2-yl]oxy-1,9-dihydroxy-5'-[(2S,3R)-3-hydroxybutan-2-yl]-4a,4b,7,7,10a-pentamethylspiro[3,4,5,6,6a,8,9,10,10b,11-decahydro-1H-chrysene-2,3'-oxolane]-2'-one 163193218 Click to see 783.00 unknown https://doi.org/10.1002/HLCA.19920750318
8-[4,5-dihydroxy-3-(3,4,5-trihydroxy-6-methyloxan-2-yl)oxyoxan-2-yl]oxy-1,9-dihydroxy-5'-(3-hydroxybutan-2-yl)-4a,4b,7,7,10a-pentamethylspiro[3,4,5,6,6a,8,9,10,10b,11-decahydro-1H-chrysene-2,3'-oxolane]-2'-one 163016898 Click to see 783.00 unknown https://doi.org/10.1002/HLCA.19920750318
> Organoheterocyclic compounds / Naphthopyrans / Naphthopyranones
2-[(5,6-Dihydroxy-2-methyl-4,8,9-trioxobenzo[g]chromen-7-yl)methyl-methylamino]acetic acid 53483341 Click to see CC1=CC(=O)C2=C(O1)C=C3C(=C2O)C(=C(C(=O)C3=O)CN(C)CC(=O)O)O 373.30 unknown https://doi.org/10.1002/HLCA.19920750318
> Phenylpropanoids and polyketides / Cinnamic acids and derivatives / Hydroxycinnamic acids and derivatives / Coumaric acids and derivatives
[(2R,3S,4R,5R,6R)-6-[2-(3,4-dihydroxyphenyl)ethoxy]-4,5-dihydroxy-3-[(2S,3R,4R,5R,6S)-3,4,5-trihydroxy-6-methyloxan-2-yl]oxyoxan-2-yl]methyl (E)-3-(3,4-dihydroxyphenyl)prop-2-enoate 163190447 Click to see CC1C(C(C(C(O1)OC2C(OC(C(C2O)O)OCCC3=CC(=C(C=C3)O)O)COC(=O)C=CC4=CC(=C(C=C4)O)O)O)O)O 624.60 unknown https://doi.org/10.1002/HLCA.19920750318
[6-[2-(3,4-Dihydroxyphenyl)ethoxy]-4,5-dihydroxy-3-(3,4,5-trihydroxy-6-methyloxan-2-yl)oxyoxan-2-yl]methyl 3-(3,4-dihydroxyphenyl)prop-2-enoate 162890077 Click to see CC1C(C(C(C(O1)OC2C(OC(C(C2O)O)OCCC3=CC(=C(C=C3)O)O)COC(=O)C=CC4=CC(=C(C=C4)O)O)O)O)O 624.60 unknown https://doi.org/10.1002/HLCA.19920750318
2-(3,4-Dihydroxyphenyl)ethyl 3-O-(6-Deoxy-alpha-L-mannopyranosyl)-4-O-((2E)-3-(3,4-dihydroxyphenyl)-2-propenoyl)-beta-D-glucopyranoside 132274946 Click to see 624.60 unknown https://doi.org/10.1002/HLCA.19920750318
Verbascoside 5281800 Click to see CC1C(C(C(C(O1)OC2C(C(OC(C2OC(=O)C=CC3=CC(=C(C=C3)O)O)CO)OCCC4=CC(=C(C=C4)O)O)O)O)O)O 624.60 unknown https://doi.org/10.1002/HLCA.19920750318

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