Phytochemical compounds, antioxidant activity, and antiproliferative activity of sesame seeds as affected by simulated digestion

Antioxidant and antiproliferative activities in white and black sesame seeds were investigated during a simulated <i>in vitro</i> digestion. The levels of phenolic compounds, flavonoids and oxygen radical absorbance capacity (ORAC) values of sesame seeds increased by over 50 % after simulated stomach, small and large intestine digestion. A higher cellular antioxidant activity (CAA) and a higher inhibition of HepG2 cell proliferation were found in the extract from small intestine digestion phase. In comparison with Aijiao Bawangbian (white color), the phenolics, flavonoids, ORAC values, CAA values and antiproliferative activity of Changzhi II (black color) were higher both before and after simulated digestion. In tested phenolics, sesamol and ferulic acid showed better antioxidant and antiproliferative activities than pinoresinol diglucoside, pinoresinol, sesamolin, and sesamin in cellular level. Sesame seed has considerable cellular antioxidant and antiproliferative activities both before and after simulated digestion, which merits further investigation <i>in vivo</i> studies.