Nano/sub-microsized lignan glycosides from sesame meal exhibit higher transport and absorption efficiency in Caco-2 cell monolayer

In the present study, we investigated whether lignan glycosides from sesame meal (LGSM), after nano/sub-microsizing, will exhibit higher transport and absorption efficiencies than LGSM. The average particle size of 1% LGSM aqueous suspension reduced from approximately 2 μm–200 nm after media-milling with zirconia beads. The transport and absorption of LGSM and nano/sub-microsized LGSM (N-LGSM) using Caco-2 human epithelial colorectal adenocarcinoma cells, a model simulating human intestinal absorption was examined. The permeability of sesaminol triglucoside (ST) in N-LGSM and LGSM was 1.41 ± 0.16 and 1.07 ± 0.21 (10−6 cm/s), respectively, indicating that ST in N-LGSM was more efficiently transported through the monolayer. In addition, N-LGSM exhibited 35.7% higher absorption efficiency than LGSM. The better performance of N-LGSM may be attributed to the (a) smaller particle size and larger surface area; (b) increased mucosal permeability, and (c) improved intestinal absorption due to the formation of nanoemulsion droplets.