Sesame oil. VI. Determination of sesamin

Summary A new method for the determination of sesamin in sesame oils is described. It is based on the measurement of the ultraviolet absorption of sesame oil following the removal of sesamol by treatment with alkali and correction for the absorption resulting from the presence of sesamolin. The advantages of the new method over the previously described colorimetric method are discussed. The accuracy of the method is attested by a comparison of the determined values with those for known added amounts of sesamin in cottonseed and sesame oils. When applied to four crude oils, the content of sesamin was found to range from 0.50 to 0.96%. Ultraviolet absorption spectra curves are reported for sesamin, sesamolin, sesamol, and sesame oil.