Semen sesami nigrum

SemenSesamiNigrum

Blacksesame

[alias] Hu Ma Zi, Zhi ma.

[source] the seeds of Sesamum indicum L.

[plant morphology] annual herb, up to 1m high. Stem erect, quadrangular, slightly pilose. Leaves opposite or upper leaves alternate; upper leaves lanceolate or narrowly elliptic, entire, middle leaves ovate, serrate, lower leaves 3-lobed. The flowers are solitary or 2-3-leaf axils; the calyx is about 6 mm long and the lobes are lanceolate; the Corolla is white or lavender, about 2.5 cm long. Capsule tetragonal long oval, about 2.5cm long, several equal width, slightly pointed top, hairy, many seeds, black, white or light yellow. The flowering period is from May to September, and the fruiting period is from July to September.

It is cultivated in all provinces except Tibet. It is mainly produced in Shandong, Henan, Hubei, Sichuan, Anhui, Jiangxi and Hebei.

[harvest] in autumn, when the fruit is ripe, the plants are harvested, dried in the sun, the seeds are laid, the impurities are removed, and then dried in the sun.

[character] the seed is oblate ovoid, about 3 mm long and 2 mm wide. Surface black, smooth or reticulate rugose, apex with brown punctate hilum. Testa thin, cotyledons 2, white, rich in oil. It's sweet and fragrant.

[chemical composition] it contains fatty oil, including oleic acid, linoleic acid, oleic acid, stearic acid, arachidonic acid, sesamin, sesamol, pedalin, planteose, sesamose, etc.

[nature and taste] it is flat in nature and sweet in taste.

Main indications: tonifying liver and kidney, benefiting essence and blood, moistening intestines and dryness. It is used for dizziness, tinnitus, deafness, early white hair, hair loss after illness, intestinal dryness and constipation.