Sesame seed are one of the oldest oil-bearing crops known to man. Not only are they nutritious, they are physicologically beneficial. Because of these properties, the promotion of sesame as a crop is set to increase from now on. The lignan component of sesame, which has an antioxidative function, varies considerably. In addition, the seeds remain viable for longer than other crops. At low temperature, it has been reported that the seed remain viable for up to thirty years. This is due to the lignan content of the seeds. In the last twenty years, the mysteries of the natural chemistry of sesame seeds have been unravelled one by one. Up to now, the lignan component has been found to have an α -tocopherol synergist effect, an anti-aging effect, a cancer suppressing effect, a hypertension reduction effect, an effect on the promotion of liver function, an effect on the control of the ration of unsaturated fat, and an effect on the synthesis of unsaturated fatty acids. The lignan component of sesame does not simply have an anti-oxidant function, but has diverse recently discovered physiological uses which make the study of lignan highly rewarding.