Sesame oil in injectable gold: Two drugs in one?

Abstract

To investigate the potential anti-inflammatory effects of sesame oil, which is present in the injectable gold preparation Auromyose®, the synthesis of tumour necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α), prostaglandin E2 (PGE2)and leukotriene B4 (LTB4) by in vitro stimulated blood cells was measured before, during and after 12 weeks of dietary suplementation with 18 g of sesame oil daily in 11 healthy male volunteers. Neither TNF-α, PGE2 nor LTB4 production levels showed statistically significant changes during the 12 weeks of dietary supplementation with sesame oil. These results do not suggest an anti-inflammatory effect of sesame oil as present in injectable gold preparations which are used in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis.