Til (Sesamum indicum L.)-An Underexploited but Promising Oilseed with Multifarious Applications: A Review

Sesame (Sesamum indicum L.), called as ‘the queen of oilseeds’, is an annual flowering plant of Pedaliaceae family. Sesame has one of the highest oil contents of any seed, which is known for properties of good health consists of a plethora of nutrients viz., proteins, carbohydrates, antioxidants, lignans, essential amino and fatty acids, and other micronutrients. With a rich and nutty flavour, it is a common ingredient in cuisines across the world. India is the largest producer of sesame. Benefits of this enigmatic crop include properties of anticancer, antioxidative, anti-immuno regulation and anti-hypersensitivity. Covering wide agro ecological regions of the world, different varieties of sesame seeds are available. They are seen growing in different parts of the world, where India being one of the major producers. The oil from this seed can be extracted by simple processes of solvent extraction and expelling or advanced supercritical extraction. Sesame which is considered as an extremely beneficial medicine has inherent power to cure many diseases. Sesame has a ray of health benefits in lowering cholesterol, controlling blood pressure, dermatological disease management and many more areas. Even in the industries, sesame oil can be utilized as biodiesel and other uses. Despite having tremendous potential, sesame remain under-estimated due to certain constraints which must be properly identified and solved for better exploitation of this wonderful oil seed. This review gives an overall impact about sesame, properties and its role in various sections.