Sesame and Parsley Seed: Chemistry, Description, and Antiproliferative Activities

Cancer is defined as the uncontrolled growth of abnormal cells, which may occur anywhere in the body, and these abnormal cells are termed malignant cells, cancer cells, or tumor cells. Sesame edible seed is obtained from the herbaceous annual plant Sesamum indicum, which belongs to the Pedaliaceae family, order tubiflorae. The bioactive components of Sesamum indicum L., such as sesamin, sesaminol, sesamol, and sesamolin, play essential roles in combating different types of biological and pharmacological concerns and are able to exhibit promising medicinal properties against diseases. Parsley (Petroselinum crispum) is a biennial herb that belongs to the carrot family (Apiaceae). It has been cultivated throughout the world and used for thousands of years for food flavoring, essential oil applications, and traditional medicines. Mostly, parsley contains apiole, myristicin, α-pinene, β-pinene, and elemicin contents. Both in vitro and in vivo studies have presented that the lignans are capable of inhibiting the growth of cancer cells by down-regulating protein expressions, suppressing the production of gene products, and through cell cycle arrest. Sesame lignans have been proven to manifest these anticancer effects against the tumor cells of lung cancer, breast cancer, colon cancer, prostate cancer, cervical cancer, blood cancer, skin cancer, and even pancreatic cancer. Parsley and sesame seeds are really a seed of blessing and have proved to provide protection against cancer. Parsley and sesame seed extracts and essential oils directly act on the proliferation of breast cancer, hepatocellular cancer, cervical cancer, lymphoid leukemia, lung adenocarcinoma, etc. These data confirm the importance of parsley and sesame seeds in the treatment of cancer.