Pharmacognostic and Physicochemical Evaluation of the Different Varieties of Sesamum indicum L. – A Comparative Study

Sesame is a condiment which is used in every household for culinary, religious and medicinal purposes. The present study deals with pharmacognostical and physicochemical evaluation of different varieties (black, white and brown) of Sesame (Sesamum indicum Linn.). The study revealed that the different varieties of Sesame seeds, microscopically shows all most similar characters, however, distribution of oil globules varies only in the case of black variety seeds. Oil globules and reddish contents are more in case of white variety when compared to other brown and black. Comparative study has taken up to identify the different varieties of Sesame with respect to its macroscopy, microscopy and other parameters like physico-chemical, preliminary phytochemical, fluorescence and TLC studies.