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Linum usitatissimum L. (Linaceae)

(Syns.: L. crepitans (Boenn.) Dumort.; L. humile Mill.)

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Handbook of 200 Medicinal Plants

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Abstract

This annual plant, as a food and fiber crop, is mainly cultivated in Central Asia, Egypt, Mediterranean countries, and southern Europe. Flaxseeds (linseeds) are regarded as functional food. Both Dioscorides and Pliny described and used this plant. Ibn al-Baitar described it as a good abortifacient, and quoted Dioscorides that using it mixed with black pepper and honey stimulates sexual desire. Linseed poultice is recommended for gouty and rheumatic swellings, and with honey they are prescribed for coughs and colds. The oil is applied in both external and internal inflammations, such as pleurisy, pneumonia, and arthritis. Application of the oil with lime-water to burns is very beneficial; and taking oil internally helps atherosclerosis and nephritis. Linseed oil was used in painter’s colic and other spasmodic affections of the bowel. In traditional Iranian medicine, seeds have been used for the treatment of IBD. Smaller seeds in whole and powdered form have higher swelling factors than the larger seeds; however, the amount of fatty oil is higher in the larger seeds than in the smaller one. In addition to being one of the richest dietary sources of α-linolenic acid, they are also a good source of soluble fiber mucilage. Flaxseeds are also one of the richest sources of lignans, that are metabolized after ingestion by colonic bacteria into enterolignans, enterodiol and enterolactone, are not degraded by heat, even after heating at 250 °C. Crushing and milling seeds substantially improves the bioavailability of enterolignans. Secoisolariciresinol diglucoside is the characteristic lignan present in seeds. The oil contains unsaturated fatty acids like oleic acid, linoleic acid, and linolenic acid, and other phenolic compounds, such as phenolic acids. Raw ground flaxseed intake for 4-weeks by healthy Canadian female volunteers lowered serum TC by 9% and LDL-C by 18%, and significantly decreased postprandial blood glucose. Even partially defatted flaxseed in muffins for 3-weeks significantly reduced TC, LDL-C, apo B and apo A-I in a controlled crossover trial of Canadian hyperlipidemic subjects.

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Notes

  1. 1.

    Tayyab M: Personal Communication.

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    Shahid Akbar

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Akbar, S. (2020). Linum usitatissimum L. (Linaceae). In: Handbook of 200 Medicinal Plants. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-16807-0_119

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