Research ArticleIn vivo modulation of LPS induced leukotrienes generation and oxidative stress by sesame lignans

The role of inflammation and oxidative stress is critical during onset of metabolic disorders and this has been sufficiently established in literature. In the present study, we evaluated the effects of sesamol and sesamin, two important bioactive molecules present in sesame oil, on the generation of inflammatory and oxidative stress factors in LPS injected rats. Sesamol and sesamin lowered LPS induced expression of cPLA2 (61 and 56%), 5-LOX (44 and 51%), BLT-1(32 and 35%) and LTC4 synthase (49 and 50%), respectively, in liver homogenate. The diminished serum LTB4 (53 and 64%) and LTC4 (67 and 44%) levels in sesamol and sesamin administered groups, respectively, were found to be concurrent with the observed decrease in the expression of cPLA2 and 5-LOX. The serum levels of TNF-α (29 and 19%), MCP-1 (44 and 57%) and IL-1β (43 and 42%) were found to be reduced in sesamol and sesamin group, respectively, as given in parentheses, compared to LPS group. Sesamol and sesamin offered protection against LPS induced lipid peroxidation in both serum and liver. Sesamol, but not sesamin, significantly restored the loss of catalase and glutathione reductase activity due to LPS (P<.05). However, both sesamol and sesamin reverted SOD activities by 92 and 98%, respectively. Thus, oral supplementation of sesamol and sesamin beneficially modulated the inflammatory and oxidative stress markers, as observed in the present study, in LPS injected rats. Our report further advocates the potential use of sesamol and sesamin as an adjunct therapy wherein, inflammatory and oxidative stress is of major concern.