Chemical Characterization of Constituents of Sesamum indicum Oil and Its Biological Activity

Abstract

Sesamum indicum oil marketed in Khartoum state (Sudan) was investigated by GC-MS . The analysis revealed the following major constituents : 9- Hexadecanoic acid methyl ester (Z)- (33.70%) 9- Octadecenoic acid (Z)-, methyl ester (33.05%) Hexadecanoic acid, methyl ester (15.52%) Methyl stearate (12.75%) . The oil was also, assessed for antioxidant activity. In the DPPH assay, the oil exhibited weak antioxidant activity (27.3%). Though the oil failed to show any activity against Bacillus subtilis , it exhibited significant antibacterial activity against Escherichia coli ,staphylococcus aureus and pseudomonas aeruginosa at test concentration(100mg/ml).it also showed significant anticandidal activity.