Common Name: Sesame

General Information

Sesamum indicum is a variable, erect, annual plant that can grow from 1 - 3 metres tall[]. Plants can be branched or unbranched. The root system has a strongly tapering taproot up to 90cm long[].
The plant has been cultivated for its edible seed and oil since at least 2,000 BC, and is still widely grown in tropical and warm temperate zones[]. It also has a range of medicinal and other uses.

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

, ,

Range

Not known but possibly northeast Africa or India.

Habitat

Not known in a truly wild situation.

Properties

Edibility Rating
Medicinal Rating
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Annual
Height	1.00 m
Pollinators	Self
Self-fertile	Yes
Cultivation Status	Cultivated

Cultivation Details

Sesame can be grown from the warm temperate zone to the tropics, so long as there is a growing season of at least 5 months. In the tropics it can be grown at elevations up to 1,500 metres. It grows best in areas where annual daytime temperatures are within the range 20 - 30°c, but can tolerate 10 - 40°c[]. It prefers a mean annual rainfall in the range 500 - 1,000mm, but tolerates 300 - 1,500mm[]. High relative humidity or heavy rains may increase the incidence of fungal diseases[].
Requires a well-drained porous soil and a warm sunny sheltered position[, ]. Succeeds in most well-drained soils of moderate fertility[]. Prefers a pH in the range 5.5 - 7.5, tolerating 4.5 - 8[]. A sheltered position is preferred, sesame is susceptible to wind damage after the main stem has elongated[].
Depending upon variety, a crop of sesame can be produced within 40 - 180 days from sowing the seed[].
The average yield of sesame seed in the world is about 350 kilos per hectare, but yields can be up to 3 tonnes[].
There are many named varieties[].
Sesame grows well with sweet corn but it grows badly with sorghum[].

Edible Uses

Seed - cooked[, , , , ]. Usually roasted or stewed, it can also be ground into a powder and used as a flour, added to breads, vegetables etc, used to make sweetmeats, or crushed and used as a butter[, , , ]. It can also be fermented into 'tempeh', ground into a powder and mixed with a sweetener to make 'halva', or made into a paste and used as the spread 'tahini'[, ]. Toasted seeds are consumed in soups or, mixed with caramelized sugar, can be shaped into candies[]. Seeds are often sprinkled on cakes, rolls and cookies before baking[]. The seeds can also be sprouted and used in salads[]. The seed contains about 21.5% protein, 60.8% fat, 8.9% carbohydrate, 3.4% ash[]. It is a rich source of unsaturated fatty acids, calcium and vitamins A, B and E[, ]. The calcium is absorbed well by the body, making sesame an excellent dietary source[].

An edible oil is obtained from the seed[, , , ]. It is used as a salad oil, for cooking, or in margarines etc[, , ]. The oil is very stable and will keep for years without turning rancid[, , ].

Leaves - raw or cooked as a potherb or added to soups[, , ].

The ash of the stem is used as a substitute for salt, and is viewed as a good source of minerals[].

Medicinal

The leaves and seed are astringent[, , ].
The leaves are rich in a gummy matter and when mixed with water they form a rich bland mucilage that is used in the treatment of infant cholera, diarrhoea, dysentery, catarrh and bladder troubles[, , ].

The seed is diuretic, emollient, galactagogue, lenitive and tonic[], and acts as a tonic for the liver and kidneys[]. It is taken internally in the treatment of premature hair loss and greying, convalescence, chronic dry constipation, dental caries, osteoporosis, stiff joints, dry cough etc[]. It has a marked ability to increase milk production in nursing mothers[]. Externally it is used to treat haemorrhoids and ulcers[, ]. The seed is very high in calories and so should be used with caution by people who are overweight[].

The oil is laxative and also promotes menstruation[]. It is used to treat dry constipation in the elderly[]. Mixed with lime water, the oil is used externally to treat burns, boils and ulcers[, ].

The root is emollient[]. A decoction is used in various traditions to treat asthma and coughs[].

The flowers are used to make an emollient tea[].

Other Uses

The seed contains up to 55% of a semi-drying oil[]. Apart from being edible, it is also used in soap making, paints, lighting, as a lubricant and a carrier of pharmaceutical drugs etc[, , , , , ]. When added to the insecticide pyrethrum it acts as a synergist, a 10% content of oil doubling the potency of the pyrethrum[, ]. The oil can also be used in barrier creams to protect the skin from harmful UV light radiation[].

The leaves are sometimes smoked as a substitute for tobacco[].

The stems are burnt as a fuel[]. The dry stalks are used as a fuel and as a construction material, for building shelters[].

Propagation

Seed - sow early spring in a greenhouse. Prick out the seedlings into individual pots when they are large enough to handle and plant them out after the last expected frosts. Give them the protection of a cloche until they are growing away well[]. In warm temperate zones, where frosts are very rare and light, or non-existent, the seed can be sown in situ in the spring or the autumn[].