<div style="text-align: justify;">Sesame is important oilseed crop of tropical and sub tropical region, renowned for its high oil content (up to 60% oil), hence sesame is known as the king of oil seeds. Sesame seed oil contains &nbsp;83% - 90% unsaturated fatty acids, 20% proteins and various minor nutrients such as vitamins and minerals, large amount of characteristic lignans, such as sesamin, sesamol, sesamolin and tocopherols. Sesame seeds with high amounts of nutritional components are consumed as a traditional health food for its specific antihypertensive effect, anticarcinogenic, anti-inflammatory and antioxidative activity. Besides food, sesame also finds its uses in application areas such as pharmaceutics, industrial, and as biofuel. Sesame is used as active ingredients in antiseptics, bactericides, viricides, disinfectants, moth repellants, and anti-tubercular agents. In spite of being a good source of &ldquo;healthy oil&rdquo; in terms of presence of high amounts of PUFA and high antioxidant content, it is not grown on a large extent due to very poor yields. Therefore, serious efforts are necessary for selecting varieties of good quality and high adaptive potential to the diverse climatic situations. There should be effective strategies adapted to produce climate ready sesame variety using modern biotechnological approach.</div>

Sesame (Sesamum indicum L.), an underexploited oil seed crop: Current status, features and importance – A review