SESAME OIL

Sesame oil is obtained by cold expression from the seeds of Sesamum indicum Linn, (Family Pedaliaceae). The plants are indigenous the Asia but cultivated in Africa, West Indies, East Indies and United States.
Description:
Sesame oil is a pale yellow limpid liquid, with a slight pleasant odour and sweet taste.
Constituents:
Oil consists of glycerides, the fatty acid of which are oleic (48%) and linoleic acids (37%) and small proportions of stearic (5%), palmitic (8%) and arachidic acids (2%) are also present. The unsaponifiable fraction of sesame oil comprises of sesamin and sesamolin, which have synergistic action.
Physical and chemical Characteristics:
Refractive Index at 40C 1.465-1.566, specific Gravity at 20, 0.916-0.919, Acid Value: not more than 4, Iodine Value: 103-112, saponification Value: 188-193, solubility slightly soluble in alcohol, miscible with ether, chloroform and light petroleum and insoluble in water. Identification tests shake 2ml of the oil with one ml of the oil with one-ml hydrochloric acid containing one per cent sucrose. A red colour is produced.
Action and uses:
Sesame oil is used as solvent for intramuscular injections. It is also used as nutritive, demulcent, emollient and laxative agent. Relatively it is stable, therefore it is employed as solvent for certain steroids and other oil soluble drugs administered in oily vehicle.