Abstract
This study investigated the free fatty acids, fatty acid profile, total phenolics, and antioxidant activity of sesame seed oil extracted from y-irradiated seeds and the decontamination effects of the treatment on fungal incidence in the seeds. Gamma irradiation reduced (P <= 0.05) fungal growth and colony forming units of sesame seeds in a dose-dependent manner. The free fatty acid content of sesame oil decreased (P <= 0.05) in irradiated samples compared to non-radiated controls, but there was no difference (P >= 0.05) between samples treated at doses >= 1.0 kGy. A concomitant (P <= 0.05) increase in total phenolic and scavenging activity was observed in the oil extracted from gamma-irradiated sesame seeds in comparison with non-radiated samples, while free fatty acid (FFA) content decreased. The results obtained in the present study demonstrate that gamma-irradiation at low doses can be used as an effective post-harvest preservation method for sesame seeds without a major effect on the quality of sesame oil.