News Releases & Research Results World’s first success in elucidating the molecular mechanism of action for the anti-inflammatory effects of sesamin

Results of collaborative study conducted by Associate Professor Yasuaki Kabe, Visiting Professor Makoto Suematsu of the Department of Biochemistry, Keio University School of Medicine, Specially Appointed Professor Hiroshi Handa of Tokyo Medical University, and others.

• Using original proprietary drug-receptor identification technology, the study group successfully identified a receptor protein as the target of sesamin metabolite and elucidated the molecular mechanism of action for the anti-inflammatory effects of sesamin for the first time in the world.
• Specifically, the following facts were identified;
  • the sesamin metabolite SC1 binds to the regulatory region of annexin A1 (*) molecule;
  • thus, the site involved in the anti-inflammatory effects of annexin A1 is activated; and
  • activated annexin A1 suppresses the expression of inflammatory substances in immune cells and controls excessive induction of inflammation.
    (*) A protein widely conserved from mammals to plants. Its N-terminal region acts as an active site and binds to calcium to be activated to exert anti-inflammatory effects.
• The results of study should lead to health promotion and drug development with sesamin.

This study was conducted with the support of the Advanced Research and Development Programs for Medical Innovation (AMED-CREST) by AMED.

The results of study were published online in npj Science of Food on February 20.

Kabe Y., et al. Annexin A1 accounts for an anti-inflammatory binding target of sesamin metabolites Science of Food
DOI：10.1038/s41538-020-0064-6