In a study recently published in Nature’s Scientific Reports journal, Sampath Parthasarathy, a cardiovascular researcher at the UCF, found that mice treated for 30 days with sesame oil extracts, and later exposed to a high fat diet developed significantly less plaque buildup compared to a control group that received no treatment.

“This is an important discovery because current atherosclerosis drug therapies, like statins, focus on lowering cholesterol and do not target inflammation.”

Known in some dietary circles as the “queen” of oils, sesame oil is believed to have natural antibacterial, antiviral, and antioxidant properties. It is also a rich source of polyunsaturated fatty acids and monounsaturated fats that can help keep cells and arteries healthy. In a previous study, Parthasarathy found mice treated with sesame oil were 60 to 80 percent less likely to develop heart disease, as the properties in sesame oil reduced both cholesterol and chronic inflammation, the two leading contributors to atherosclerosis.

Parthasarathy, who holds the Florida Hospital endowed chair in cardiovascular sciences, believes that most of sesame oil’s benefits come from additional water-soluble compounds that are produced when the oil is extracted from sesame seeds.  His laboratory has identified several novel compounds in sesame oil that may have anti-inflammatory properties. They have developed a unique method to separate these non-fat components, producing a sesame oil aqueous extract, which can be freeze-dried and added to common beverages such as lemonade or tea. The current study was aimed at testing whether the water soluble components of the oil would have the same effects in inhibiting atherosclerosis as the oil itself.

In the study, Parthasarathy divided mouse models into three groups.  For 30 days, one group received daily doses of whole sesame oil, the second group received the aqueous extract and the third control group received no treatment.  After the first 30 days, all three groups of mice were placed on high fat diets for another 30 days. At the end of the study, tests revealed that the control group developed atherosclerosis, while the sesame oil-treated group and the extract-treated group did not.

“We found that one month of pre-treatment with sesame oil and the aqueous extract prevented the subsequent development of atherosclerosis by about 55 to 60 percent, even with a high fat diet,” Parthasarathy says. “This is the first time a nutritional product has been shown to decrease or prevent future development of atherosclerosis.”

“This is the first time a nutritional product has been shown to decrease or prevent future development of atherosclerosis.”

Mice treated with both sesame oil and the aqueous extracts also had decreased inflammation. However, only mice that received sesame oil showed decreased cholesterol levels.

“Considering both groups were protected from atherosclerosis, this tells us that inflammation is more important in causing the disease than cholesterol,” Parthasarathy says, citing the need for more studies on the role of inflammation in atherosclerosis. “This is an important discovery because current atherosclerosis drug therapies, like statins, focus on lowering cholesterol and do not target inflammation.”

Statins also have side effects such as muscle pain, digestive problems and in rare cases liver damage.

Sesame oil is not a preferred choice for cooking because its low smoke point causes it to burns quickly. But Parthasarathy suggests incorporating it into meals by adding a tablespoon to soup, sauces or smoothies or using it as a salad dressing. He also recommends using unrefined or cold-pressed sesame oil as these oils retain most of the beneficial components that are filtered out during the refining process.

The research team wants to do further studies of the effects of statins used in combination with sesame oil in decreasing cholesterol and preventing inflammation.  With its noted anti-inflammatory effects, his lab is also exploring sesame oil’s effects for other inflammatory conditions such as Crohn’s disease.

Dr. Libby is an internationally recognized heart researcher, clinician and educator. He holds the Mallinckrodt Professor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School and served as chief of cardiovascular medicine at Brigham and Women’s Hospital. His current research focus is on the role of inflammation in vascular diseases. He has received numerous awards for his research, including the Gold Medal of the European Society of Cardiology and the Basic Research Prize of the American Heart Association.

Dr. Moncada is a knighted physician scientist known for his discovery of the structure of prostacyclin, which acts as a vasodilator and prevents blood platelets from clumping. His research has been foundational in understanding inflammation and cell stress and in creating compounds that can be used to treat cardiovascular and rheumatic diseases. Dr. Moncada is director of the Wolfson Institute for Biomedical Research at şŁ˝ÇÖ±˛Ą College and has won numerous awards from the international scientific community.

The conference will include presentations and posters by 21 worldwide experts. Sessions will address topics including the dramatic increase in inflammatory bowel disease, the environmental and stress factors associated with inflammation, and inflammation’s role in conditions from vascular disease in diabetics to wound healing.

Dr. Sampath Parthasarathy, the UCF College of Medicine’s associate dean for research and an event organizer, said a major goal of the conference is to address the issue of whether preventing inflammation could delay or prevent the onset of chronic diseases, including atherosclerosis, inflammatory bowel disease, neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s, diabetes and obesity. He said the medical school specifically sought out world renowned researchers and clinicians who study and treat inflammatory disease to encourage both groups to form partnerships and work together to identify medical trends and develop translational research. Dr. Parthasarathy, who holds the college’s Florida Hospital endowed chair in cardiovascular sciences, is co-discoverer of the major cardiovascular concept that oxidized LDL blocks arterial vessels in the heart. The work is considered a landmark discovery in medical sciences.

As part of the conference’s focus on health, it will feature experts in Ayurvedic medicine. This holistic, ancient Indian approach to wellness is based on a balance between body, mind and spirit. Ayurvedic practitioners focus on the promotion, prevention, and rejuvenation of health through a variety of practices including diet, exercise, psychological interventions and detoxification. Many of Ayurvedic medicine’s dietary recommendations are based on anti-inflammatory foods and herbs.

“We know the key role inflammation plays in chronic disease. Now we must work together to understand how inflammation begins and how to prevent it and treat it,” said Dr. Deborah German, vice president for medical education and founding dean of the College of Medicine. A rheumatologist by training, Dr. German said she understands first-hand the suffering inflammatory disease causes patients. “By bringing together world class experts in the field, we want to inspire scientists and clinicians to work together to find a cure,” she said.

Fore more information and to sign up for the conference, please visit:

https://med.ucf.edu/inflammation-conference/

Dr. Naser’s research centers on Mycobacterium avium subspecies paratuberculosis, known as MAP. The bacterium is found in about half the cows in the United States, and can be spread to humans through milk, beef and produce fertilized by cow manure. Dr. Naser believes MAP is an underlying cause of Crohn’s.

Dr. Naser is using some of the legislative grant to examine the role of the MAP bacterium and to understand the disease mechanism in  Crohn’s patients with a genetic predisposition to the disease. “I need to learn more about the bacterium and the host to better determine who is at risk,” he said. “We need to understand why one person can eat a piece of meat and end up with Crohn’s disease while others can be fine.”

More than 750,000 Americans suffer from Crohn’s, a disease that currently has no cure. According to the latest Florida Department of Health statistics, 35,000 Floridians have Crohn’s disease – or 222 per 100,000 people. The numbers are higher with people suffering from ulcerative colitis, Dr. Naser said. He emphasized that because MAP is present in our food chain, “understanding the role of MAP in Crohn’s disease should impact diagnosis and treatment of the disease and ultimately may impact regulatory policies to support public health and food safety.”

The şŁ˝ÇÖ±˛Ą of Miami is using its share of the grant for clinical research. Dr. Sampath Parthasarathy, interim associate dean for research at the College of Medicine, is using a portion of the grant to examine whether inflammatory agents in fried foods cause Crohn’s-like symptoms or exacerbate symptoms in patients who have the disease through bacterial infection. Understanding whether there is a dietary component in Crohn’s symptoms could lead to preventative measures and shed light on non-microbial causes of the disease, Dr. Parthasarathy said.

Dr. Griffith Parks, director of the Burnett School, applauded the legislative award. “The work of all those involved is an impressive show of collaborative efforts to address this devastating disease,” he said.

Meanwhile, more than 40 clinical sites in three different countries are participating in the UCF clinical trial that is testing whether MAP is present in patients before, during and after a one-year treatment an antibiotic regimen known as RHB 104.

Crohn’s patients have learned about the clinical trials through clinicaltrials.gov and social media and Dr. Naser is receiving daily inquiries from patients wanting to volunteer in the study. Several boxes of specimens are arriving at his UCF lab each day for the trial.

“I have high hopes that this clinical trial may lead to finding a cure,” he said. “I am so thankful to be in a position to make a difference in people’s lives.”

Patients are expected to be on the treatment for one year. Results and findings of the double-blind study will then be released at the conclusion of the study.

Dr. Sampath Parthasarathy, who holds the Florida Hospital Endowed Chair in Cardiovascular Sciences at the College of Medicine’s Burnett School of Biomedical Sciences, talked about his research into the healing traits of sesame oil at the Luminary Presentation Series on April 11. Dr. Parthasarathy is an internationally known cardiovascular scientist who also serves as Associate Director for Research at the Burnett school.

“Sesame oil is opening new doors in research,” Dr. Parthasarathy told an audience at the Interlachen Country Club in Winter Park. He cited sobering statistics from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention about heart disease in the United States: In 2008, more than 616,000 people died of heart disease. In 2010, coronary heart disease alone was projected to cost the U.S. $108.9 billion.

Sesame oil is a rich source of polyunsaturated fatty acids, antioxidants, and polyunsaturated and monounsaturated fats that can keep cells and arteries healthy. It shows promise in controlling inflammation of the arteries, which can signal a buildup of fatty deposits, or atherosclerosis, Dr. Parthasarathy said.

Dr. Parthasarathy cited a 2009 study from Ohio State şŁ˝ÇÖ±˛Ą, where he held the Klassen Chair of Cardiac Surgery and Professor of Surgery. Using two groups of mice, he and other researchers looked at whether sesame oil could prevent atherosclerosis. One group received a diet rich in sesame oil, the control group did not. Plasma from the control group was murky, but mice who received the sesame oil had clear plasma.

A slide from the control group showed white spots along the inner linings of arteries, indicating atherosclerosis. But arteries from mice fed sesame oil were clear.

When asked how he uses sesame oil in his diet, Dr. Parthasarathy said he includes 2 tablespoons daily. He suggested mixing it with peanut butter or using it in salad dressings. In Indian culture, he said people gargle with it to promote healthy gums.

Although more research into sesame oil is needed, Dr. Parthasarathy said, he is “excited and encouraged” by its potential benefits.

“Dr. Parthasarathy has dedicated his life to finding causes of heart disease,” said Dr. Deborah German, vice president of medical affairs and dean of the College of Medicine.

“He is amazing,” said Dr. Pappachan Kolattukudy, director of the Burnett School of  Biomedical Sciences, who is himself a researcher in cardiovascular disease. “He is a world-class scientist who is acknowledged by everyone in the profession. He is also a world-class scholar. It is a significant achievement for us to get someone like this.”

Dr. Parthasarathy is a recognized expert in lipids who is credited with the co-discovery of a major cardiovascular concept – the fact that oxidized LDL cholesterol blocks arterial vessels in the heart. His areas of interest include arteriosclerosis, cardiovascular nutrition and heart failure. Dr. Parthasarathy has a breadth of research experience, including studies on endometriosis, aspirin therapy and heart disease related to diabetes.

His work is extensively funded by the National Institute of Health (NIH), and he has received more than 23,000 citations of his research findings. He belongs to an elite group — consisting of the top fraction of 1 percent — of the most highly cited authors worldwide in his field, as designated in Highly Cited Authors by ISI, the world authority in  the analysis of impact of research.

Dr. Kolattukudy said Florida Hospital, a College of Medicine partner, is “thrilled” with Dr. Parthasarathy’s appointment because of the opportunity to work together on translational research and clinical trials for heart disease treatments. “Our new endowed chair really gives us the opportunity to have bench to bedside research,” he said.

In addition to research, Dr. Parthasarathy will also serve as a mentor to fellow Burnett School faculty. “My major goals are to continue my vigorous scientific research and provide mentoring, motivation and direction to junior scientists,” he said.

Dr. Parthasarathy begins work at the Burnett School on Nov. 1.