Were our Ancestors Right in Using Flax Dressings? Research on the Properties of Flax Fibre and Its Usefulness in Wound Healing

Abstract

Background. Despite the wide range of medical dressings available commercially, there is still a search for better biomaterials for use in the treatment of especially difficult-to-heal wounds. For several years, attention has been paid to the use of substances, compounds, and even whole plants in medicine. Flax is a plant that has been used as a dressing for thousands of years. Therefore, we decided to test flax fibres that had previously been genetically modified as a potential wound dressing. Materials and Methods. In this study, two modified flax fibres and their combinations were tested on cell lines (mice fibroblast, normal human dermal fibroblast, normal human epidermal keratinocytes, human dermal microvascular endothelial cell, epidermal carcinoma cancer cells, monocyte cells). In the tests, fibres of the traditional flax (Nike) were used as a control. Several experiments were performed to assess cell proliferation and viability, the number of apoptotic cells, the cell cycle, genotoxicity, the level of free oxygen radicals, and determination of the number of cells after 48 hours of incubation of cell cultures with the tested flax fibres. Results. The obtained results confirm the positive influence of flax on the used cell lines. Both traditional fibres (Nike) and genetically modified fibres increased the proliferation of fibroblast cells and keratinocytes, reduced the level of free oxygen radicals, and influenced the repair of DNA damage. At the same time, the tested flax fibres did not have a proproliferative effect on the neoplastic cell line. Interestingly, genetic modifications had a stronger impact on the proliferative activity of fibroblasts, keratinocytes, and microvascular endothelium compared to the traditional flax fibre used. Conclusions. In this study, the positive properties of the tested flax fibres on cell lines were proved. In the next stage, it is worth carrying out in vivo tests of tested genetically modified flax fibres.

The Technological Process of Obtaining New Linen Dressings Did Not Cause the Loss of Their Wound-Healing Properties

“…In addition to this, the necrosis level was higher for conventional flax compared to the modified flax. Modified varieties of flax have a favorable effect on tissue cultures [30]; therefore, linen fabrics were made on their basis-the research on which is presented in this publication. It turned out that the technological process was correct and did not change the properties of the flax fibers.…”

Physiological and Pathological Considerations for the Use of Flaxseed as a Therapeutic Dietary Strategy

“…Flax dressings have been in use to promote the healing of wounds for thousands of years. In ancient Mesopotamia, Egypt, Greece and the Roman Republic, their armies used linen dressings for wounds incurred in wartime [ 95 ]. These were used in Rome during gladiator times when wounds were a frequent result of conflicts in the stadiums of the time [ 95 ].…”

“…In ancient Mesopotamia, Egypt, Greece and the Roman Republic, their armies used linen dressings for wounds incurred in wartime [ 95 ]. These were used in Rome during gladiator times when wounds were a frequent result of conflicts in the stadiums of the time [ 95 ]. More recent research studies have carefully evaluated the efficacy of linen dressings to accelerate the healing process.…”

“…More recent research studies have carefully evaluated the efficacy of linen dressings to accelerate the healing process. Generally, the studies have proven the efficacy of using linen or flax oil to promote wound healing [ 95 , 96 , 97 , 98 , 99 , 100 , 101 ]. There exist some conflicting studies that have not shown much beneficial effect [ 102 , 103 ] and a concern of specific preparations of linen that may induce dermal irritation [ 99 ].…”

“…However, the majority of evidence would support the continued use of linen in promoting wound healing. The mechanisms by which flax fibres induce a protective action include an inhibition of skin cell apoptosis, promotion of skin cell growth [ 96 ], inhibition of inflammation [ 95 , 98 ], increased collagen synthesis and fibroblast proliferation [ 98 ], and protection against oxidative damage [ 95 ]. Combinations of flax extracts in the fibres with additional complementary wound healing elements appear to accelerate the wound healing process even further [ 102 , 104 , 105 ].…”