A Comprehensive Review on Linum usitatissimum Medicinal Plant: Its Phytochemistry, Pharmacology, and Ethnomedicinal Uses

Abstract

Background: Linum usitatissimum or flax has been broadly utilized in numerous milieus world-wide as a primeval medicinal plant because of its health benefits in diverse types of diseases. Objective: The objective of this review is to assemble the latest information on the botanical description, distribution, conventional uses, and biochemical constituents, along with the pharmacological activities and toxicity of flax . Method: For this purpose, data on Linum was accumulated from scientific journals, books, and worldwide acknowledged scientific databases via a library and electronic search. Results : Phytochemical analysis showed that the major chemical constituents of L. usitatissimum are ω-3 fatty acid, phytoestrogenic lignans (secoisolariciresinol diglycoside-SDG), phenols, flavonoids, sterols, proteins, antioxidants as well as various soluble and insoluble fibres. Among them, secoisolariciresinol diglycosides (SDG) are the major bioactive compounds of L. usitatissimum with prospective pharmacological accomplishments. Pure compounds and crude extracts isolated from L. usitatissimum exhibited significant anti-cancer, antioxidant, anti-microbial, anti-inflammatory, anti-obesity, anti-diabetic, anti-diarrheal, anti-malarial, hepato-protective, reno-protective, immunosuppressive, antiarrhythmic, and cognitive effects. Studies indicated that the toxicological effect from the consumption of flaxseed is because of its cyanogenic glycosides, linatine, and cadmium, but the level doesn't seem to be adequately concentrated to contribute any physiological impact. Conclusions: Further studies are expected to comprehend the detailed mode of action of its dynamic constituents as potent therapeutics and to completely reveal its preventive and healing potentials.

Role of Hydrazine-Related Chemicals in Cancer and Neurodegenerative Disease

“…), (Figure ); these synthesize and harbor numerous hydrazones, notably acetaldehyde methylformylhydrazone, which on cooking releases MMH (), an acutely neurotoxic agent and tumor inducer in mice and hamsters, through the intermediate N -methyl- N -formylhydrazine. , Ancient gymnosperm plants in the division Cycadophyta harbor various azoxyglucosides, the common aglycone of which is MAM, a metabolite of 1,2-dimethylhydrazine and azoxymethane. − (Figure ). Hydrazine can be detected in the tobacco plant, Nicotiana tabacum , but at much lower levels than first reported. , Flaxseed ( Linum usitatissimum) contains linatine [ N -( d -2-carboxy-1-pyrrolidinyl)- l -glutamine] but at levels that may have little or no human toxicological significance. , …”

“…18,30 Flaxseed (Linum usitatissimum) contains linatine [N-(D-2-carboxy-1-pyrrolidinyl)-L-glutamine] but at levels that may have little or no human toxicological significance. 31,32 The foregoing describes a few of the >200 compounds known to contain a nitrogen−nitrogen bond, including hydrazones, hydrazines, hydrazides, nitramines, nitrosamines (including streptozotocin), azoxy, diazo compounds, and a range of heterocyclic scaffolds (pyrazole, pyridazine, azapteridine, triazolopyrimidine and piperazic acid derivatives). 33 For present purposes, the genotoxic/carcinogenic compounds MAM and gyromitrin are key because of their association with human neurodegenerative disease (vide infra).…”

A Review of the Potential Benefits of Herbal Medicines, Small Molecules of Natural Sources, and Supplements for Health Promotion in Lupus Conditions

“…Flaxseed oil, or linseed oil, is rich in omega-3 fatty acids. It also contains linolenic acid, linoleic acid, secoisolariciresinol diglucoside (SDG), lignans, and cyclic peptides [313,314]. Flaxseed contains polysaccharides with immunomodulatory properties such as FP-1.…”

A comprehensive review on recent novel food and industrial applications of flaxseed: 2014 onwards

“…The application of flaxseed or its components in food products is associated with several health benefits such as lipid modulating properties, drop in the chances of occurrence of cardiovascular diseases and cancer, improvement in gastrointestinal health and brain function owing to anti-oxidative and anti-inflammatory activities of flaxseed components. Besides this, flaxseed contains phenols, proteins, antioxidants, flavonoids and sterols (Akter et al, 2021). Flaxseed lignans are the phytoestrogens which means that these are plant compounds that show estrogen-like biological activity and their intake offers in preventing age-related bone loss, postmenopausal osteoporosis, CVDs, etc (Arjmandi, 2001;Coelingh Bennink, Heegaard, Visser, Holinka & Christiansen, 2008).…”