Research Update:Linum usitatissimum L.

  seminal trace...Linseed.Oil Flaxseed.5:1,10:1Extract.Oil flaxseed, Linum usitatissimum L.2n=30.Hu Ma,Oil flaxseed.Fatty acid alpha linoleic.Omega-3...

 


   Phytochemical info of Linum usitatissimum L.

 Product Name:
 Synonym:
 Definition:Linum usitatissimum L are majorly composed of
 Chemical information disclosed as following table:


   Research Update:Linum usitatissimum L.

  Effects of phytoestrogen extracts from Linum usitatissimum on the Jeg3 human trophoblast tumour cell line.:Anticancer Res. 2007 Jul-Aug;27(4A):2053-8.Abarzua S, Szewczyk M, Gailus S, Richter DU, Ruth W, Briese V, Piechulla B.Institutes of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Natural Sciences, University of Rostock, Albert-Einstein-Str. 3, 18059 Rostock, Germany.

 BACKGROUND: Phytoestrogens are a diverse group of nonsteroidal plant compounds which have similar effects to endogenous estrogens in humans and have been ascribed potential anticarcinogenic activities. We tested the effects of phytoestrogen extracts from different plant organs of flax, Linum usitatissimum, on cell proliferation in trophoblast tumour cells of the cell line Jeg3. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Phytoestrogen extracts were prepared from leaves, stems and roots of L. usitatissimum using different extraction methods. The isolated phytoestrogens were identified using HPLC-MS analysis. The influence on cell proliferation (MTT test) was determined in the trophoblast tumour cells, Jeg3. RESULTS: Cell proliferation of trophoblast tumour Jeg3 cells was significantly affected by the phytoestrogens isolated from leaves, stems and roots of L. usitatissimum. Root extracts inhibited Jeg3 cell growth significantly. CONCLUSION: A cell culture model system of the human trophoblast tumour cell line, Jeg3, was established to test the effect of potential phytoestrogens on cell proliferation. It was shown that the roots of L. usitatissimum contain measurable concentrations of lignans and isoflavones.

  Systemic inflammation in morbidly obese subjects: response to oral supplementation with alpha-linolenic acid.:Obes Surg. 2007 Mar;17(3):341-7.Faintuch J, Horie LM, Barbeiro HV, Barbeiro DF, Soriano FG, Ishida RK, Cecconello I.Department of Gastroenterology, Hospital das Clinicas and LIM 51, S?o Paulo University Medical School, S?o Paulo, Brazil. jfaintuch@hcnet.usp.br

 BACKGROUND: Morbidly obese patients frequently display asymptomatic chronic activation of acute phase response, with potentially adverse metabolic and cardiovascular consequences. Nutritional preparations to improve this phenomenon have rarely been administered. Aiming to investigate the supplementation of flaxseed flour, a source of omega-3 fatty acids, a prospective randomized double-blind cross-over study was designed. METHODS: Outpatient obese subjects (n=41) were clinically and biochemically screened, and results for 24 randomized subjects are shown. Age was 40.8 +/- 11.6 years (83.3% females) and body mass index (BMI) was 47.1 +/- 7.2 kg/m2. Flaxseed flour (Farinha de Linhaca Dourada LinoLive, Cisbra, Brazil) in the amount of 30 g/day (5 g of alpha-linolenic acid - omega-3) and an equal mass of placebo (manioc flour) were administered for 2 weeks each. Variables included general biochemical investigation, white blood cell count (WBC), C-reactive protein (CRP), serum amyloid A (SAA) and fibronectin. RESULTS: No intolerance was registered. Body weight and general biochemical indices remained stable. Initial CRP and SAA were elevated (13.7 +/- 9.9 and 17.4 +/- 8.0 ). WBC (8100 +/- 2100/mm3) and fibronectin (463.2 +/- 61.3 mg/dL) were acceptable but in the upper normal range. Corresponding findings after supplementation of flaxseed were 10.6 +/- 6.2 mg/L, 14.3 +/- 9.2 mg/L, 7300 +/- 1800/mm3 and 412.8 +/- 38.6 respectively (P<0.05). No change during the control period regarding baseline occurred when placebo was randomized to be given first; however, when it followed omega-3 supplementation, CRP and SAA recovered, whereas WBC and fibronection remained depressed during those 2 weeks (7500 +/- 2100/mm3 and 393.2 +/- 75.8 mg/dL, P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: 1) Various inflammatory markers were elevated in the studied population, although not necessarily exceeding the normal range; 2) Significant reduction could be demonstrated; 3) Some persistent effects of flaxseed supplement 2 weeks after discontinuation were observed.

  Microarray analysis of flax (Linum usitatissimum L.) stems identifies transcripts enriched in fibre-bearing phloem tissues.:Mol Genet Genomics. 2007 Aug;278(2):149-65. Epub 2007 May 15.Roach MJ, Deyholos MK.Department of Biological Sciences, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada, T6G 2E9, deyholos@ualberta.ca.

 To better understand the molecular processes associated with the development of the unusually long (>30 mm) and strong bast fibre cells within the phloem of flax stems, we conducted a gene discovery experiment to identify transcripts enriched in fibre-bearing tissues, with the intention that these transcripts would serve as future targets for crop improvement and research in phloem development and cell wall deposition. We produced a library of 9,600 cDNA clones from the peels of flax stems, and selected tissue-specific cDNAs for sequencing based on two series of microarray experiments. In the first microarray series, we compared transcript abundance in stem-peels and leaves, and identified stem-enriched transcripts putatively involved in the processes of polysaccharide and cell wall metabolism. In the second microarray series, we compared gene expression in three segments of the vertical stem axis, which constituted a developmental series for phloem fibres and other cell types. The expression of specific LTP and AGP transcripts was particularly well-correlated with stem segments during either the elongation phase or cell-wall thickening phase of phloem fibre development, and the phloem-specific enrichment of these transcripts was confirmed by qRT-PCR. Transcripts representing multiple, distinct chitinases, beta-galactosidases, arabinogalactan proteins (AGP), and lipid transfer proteins (LTPs) were among the interesting transcripts enriched in specific stages of the developing stem. Considered together, the results of our analyses suggest similarity between the molecular mechanisms underlying phloem fibre development and the gelatinous fibres of tension wood in trees.

  Aryltetralin-lignan formation in two different cell suspension cultures of Linum album: deoxypodophyllotoxin 6-hydroxylase, a key enzyme for the formation of 6-methoxypodophyllotoxin.:Phytochemistry. 2007 May;68(10):1397-406. Epub 2007 Apr 20.Federolf K, Alfermann AW, Fuss E.Institut f¨¹r Entwicklungs- und Molekularbiologie der Pflanzen, Heinrich-Heine-Universit?t D¨¹sseldorf, Universit?tsstr. 1, 40225 D¨¹sseldorf, Germany.

 Suspension cultures initiated from two different Linum album seedlings accumulate either podophyllotoxin (PTOX, 2.6 mg/g DW) or 6-methoxypodophyllotoxin (6MPTOX, 5.4 mg/g DW) as main lignans. Two molecules of coniferyl alcohol are dimerized to pinoresinol which is converted via several steps into deoxypodophyllotoxin (DOP) which seems to be the branching point to PTOX or 6MPTOX biosynthesis. DOP is hydroxylated at position 7 to give PTOX by deoxypodophyllotoxin 7-hydroxylase (DOP7H). In contrast, 6MPTOX biosynthesis is achieved by DOP hydroxylation at position 6 to beta-peltatin by the cytochrome P450 enzyme deoxypodophyllotoxin 6-hydroxylase (DOP6H). The following methylation to beta-peltatin-A-methylether is catalyzed by beta-peltatin 6-O-methyltransferase (betaP6OMT) from which 6MPTOX is formed by hydroxylation at position 7 by beta-peltatin-A-methylether 7-hydroxylase (PAM7H). DOP6H and betaP6OMT could be characterized in protein extracts from cell cultures of L. flavum and L. nodiflorum, respectively, and here in L. album for the first time. DOP7H and PAM7H activities could not yet be detected with protein extracts. Experiments of feeding DOP together with inhibitors of cytochrome P450 depending as well as dioxygenase enzymes were performed in order to shed light on the type of DOP7H and PAM7H. Growth parameters and specific activities of enzymes from the phenylpropane as well as the lignan specific biosynthetic pathway were measured during a culture period of 16 days. From the enzymes studied only the DOP6H showed a differential activity sustaining the hypothesis that this enzyme is responsible for the differential lignan accumulation in both cell lines.

  Development of extraction and gas chromatography analytical methodology for cyanogenic glycosides in flaxseed (Linum usitatissimum).:J AOAC Int. 2007 Jan-Feb;90(1):153-61.Bacala R, Barthet V.Canadian Grain Commission, Grain Research Laboratory, 1404-303 Main St, Winnipeg, MB, R3C 3G8, Canada.

 The development of well-characterized rapid methodology for the extraction and gas chromatographic analysis of the cyanogenic glycosides linustatin and neolinustatin from flaxseed (Linum usitatissimum L.) is reported. Two quantitation methods using phenyl-beta-D-glucopyranoside as an internal standard are described: direct quantitation using linustatin and neolinustatin external standard curves [standard curve slope variabilities of 2.6 and 5.7% relative standard deviation (RSD), respectively, over 7 days] or by use of methyl-alpha-D-glucopyranoside as a surrogate external standard, with conversion factors to convert to linustatin and neolinustatin concentration [1.109 +/- 0.015 (SD) mg linustatin/mg methyl-alpha-D-glucopyranoside and 1.180 +/-0.067 (SD) mg neolinustatin/mg methyl-alpha-D-glucopyranoside]. The former method is direct, thereby contributing less uncertainty to the method, and the latter adds a small degree of uncertainty coupled with considerable cost savings. Limits of detection for all standards were in the low- to sub-nanogram level and were 10-100 times lower than the lower limit of quantitation (LOQ). Repeatability precision was performed on 2 separate days at the lower and upper LOQs, with the RSD in peak response being 1% or lower in all cases. Extraction methods were evaluated for their ability to extract linustatin and neolinustatin from flaxseed using several combinations of aqueous ethanol, and recoveries were determined against the highest yielding method. Recoveries were as low as 82%, indicating that optimized extraction methodology is critical for the accuracy of results.


  Lignans from Linum species of sections Syllinum and Linum.:Nat Prod Res. 2007 Jan;21(1):1-6.Konuklugil B, Ionkova I, Vasilev N, Schmidt TJ, Windh?vel J, Fuss E, Alfermann AW.Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Ankara, 06100 Tandogan-Ankara, Turkey.

 The aryltetralin lignans 6-methoxypodophyllotoxin, 5'-demethoxy-6-methoxypodophyllotoxin as well as the corresponding 8'-epimers 6-methoxypicropodophyllin, and 5'-demethoxy-6-methoxypicropodophyllin were isolated from suspension cultures of Linum cariense, and 4'-demethyl-6-methoxypodophyllotoxin together with 6-methoxypodophyllotoxin from plants of L. tauricum, which both belong to section Syllinum of the genus Linum. Cell cultures of L. altaicum, L. austriacum ssp. euxinum and L. lewisii belonging to section Linum accumulate the naphthalene lignans justicidin B and isojusticidin B. The different lignans were identified by HPLC and spectroscopic methods.

  Influence of prebiotics and antioxidants in bread on the immune system, antioxidative status and antioxidative capacity in male smokers and non-smokers.:Br J Nutr. 2007 Feb;97(2):349-56.Seidel C, Boehm V, Vogelsang H, Wagner A, Persin C, Glei M, Pool-Zobel BL, Jahreis G.Friedrich Schiller University, Institute of Nutrition, Dornburger Strasse 24-29, D-07743 Jena, Germany.

 Interest in functional foods is increasing. The aim of the present study was to investigate breads supplemented with functional components. One was bread supplemented with inulin, linseed and soya fibre (prebiotic bread). The other was a prebiotic antioxidant bread (pre-aox-bread), which additionally contained green tea powder, herbs and tomato paste. The effects of these two breads on immunological and antioxidative parameters were compared with control bread (placebo). Twenty smokers and eighteen non-smokers were enrolled in the randomised parallel study, which consisted of a control period and an intervention period, each lasting for 5 weeks. Daily intake of bread and nutrients did not differ between the intervention and the control period. Most of the twenty-three investigated immunological parameters measured in peripheral blood were unaffected. However, the percentage of CD19 increased after intervention with prebiotic bread, whereas intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) and CD3+NK+ (P < 0.05) decreased in both intervention arms. The ferric reducing ability of plasma (FRAP) was increased after consumption of the pre-aox-bread for non-smokers (1256 v. 1147 micromol/l; P = 0.019) and remained unchanged for smokers consuming the pre-aox-bread. All analysed carotenoids (P
  Lignin deficiency in transgenic flax resulted in plants with improved mechanical properties.:J Biotechnol. 2007 Mar 10;128(4):919-34. Epub 2007 Jan 17.Wr¨®bel-Kwiatkowska M, Starzycki M, Zebrowski J, Oszmia¨½ski J, Szopa J.Madex S.J., Ko?cieleczki 10A, 82-210 Malbork, Poland.

 Flax (Linum usitatissimum L.) is a very important source of natural fibres used by the textile industry. Flax fibres are called lignocellulosic, because they contain mainly cellulose (about 70%), with hemicellulose, pectin and lignin. Lignin is a three-dimensional polymer with a high molecular weight, and it gives rigidity and mechanical resistance to the fibre and plant. Its presence means the fibres have worse elastic properties than non-lignocellulosic fibres, e.g. cotton fibres, which contain no lignin. The main aim of this study was to produce low-lignin flax plants with fibres with modified elastic properties. An improvement in the mechanical properties was expected. The used strategy for CAD down-regulation was based on gene silencing RNAi technology. Manipulation of the CAD gene caused changes in enzyme activity, lignin content and in the composition of the cell wall in the transgenic plants. The detected reduction in the lignin level in the CAD-deficient plants resulted in improved mechanical properties. Young's modulus was up to 75% higher in the generated transgenic plants (CAD33) relative to the control plants. A significant increase in the lignin precursor contents and a reduction in the pectin and hemicellulose constituents was also detected. A decrease in pectin and hemicellulose, as well as a lower lignin content, might lead to improved extractability of the fibres. However, the resistance of the transgenic lines to Fusarium oxysporum was over two-fold lower than for the non-transformed plants. Since Fusarium species are used as retting organisms and had been isolated from retted flax, the increased sensitivity of the CAD-deficient plant to F. oxysporum infection might lead to improved flax retting.

  A combined HPLC-UV and HPLC-MS method for the identification of lignans and its application to the lignans of Linum usitatissimum L. and L. bienne Mill.:Phytochem Anal. 2006 Sep;17(5):299-311.Schmidt TJ, Hemmati S, Fuss E, Alfermann AW.Institut f¨¹r Pharmazeutische Biologie und Phytochemie, Westf?lische Wilhelms-Universit?t M¨¹nster, Germany. thomschm@uni-muenster.de

 A combined HPLC-UV/PAD and HPLC-ESI/MS method allowing the fast detection and identification/structural characterisation of lignans of different structural subclasses is described. Twenty-four lignans of different skeletal types were analysed and the combined information derived from their UV and ESI/MS spectra led to the identification of group characteristics that can be used to establish the structure of unknown lignans in plant samples. This method was successfully applied to the identification of lignans in crude extracts of Linum usitatissimum L. and L. bienne Mill.

  High accumulation of dehydrodiconiferyl alcohol-4-beta-D: -glucoside in free and immobilized Linum usitatissimum cell cultures.:Plant Cell Rep. 2006 Aug;25(8):859-64. Epub 2006 Mar 8.Attoumbr¨¦ J, Charlet S, Baltora-Rosset S, Hano C, Raynaud-Le Grandic S, Gillet F, Bensaddek L, Mesnard F, Fliniaux MA.Biologie des plantes et contr?le des insectes ravageurs, EA 3900, Groupe de Phytotechnologie, Facult¨¦ de Pharmacie, 1 rue des Louvels, 80037, Amiens Cedex 1, France.

 As flaxseed mainly accumulates lignans (secoisolariciresinol diglucoside and matairesinol), these compounds were barely or not detected in plant cell suspensions initiated from Linum usitatissimum. In contrast, these cell suspensions were shown to accumulate substantial amounts of a neolignan identified as dehydrodiconiferyl alcohol-4-beta-D: -glucoside (DCG) (up to 47.7 mg g(-1) DW). The formation of this pharmacologically active compound was evaluated as a function of cell growth and in relation to phytohormone balance of the culture media. After establishment of efficient culture conditions, production of DCG was investigated in immobilized plant cell suspensions initiated from plantlet roots of L. usitatissimum. The results indicate that immobilization enhances the DCG production up to 60.0 mg g(-1) DW but depresses the cell growth resulting in no improvement of the total DCG yield. Nevertheless, with immobilized cell suspensions, a release of DCG into the medium is observed allowing an easier recovery.


  Induction of apoptosis in leukemia cell lines by Linum persicum and Euphorbia cheiradenia.:J Cancer Res Clin Oncol. 2006 Jul;132(7):427-32. Epub 2006 Feb 14.Amirghofran Z, Bahmani M, Azadmehr A, Javidnia K. Immunology Department, Medical School, Shiraz University of Medical Science, 71345-1798 Shiraz, Iran. amirghz@sums.ac.ir

 PURPOSE: In the present study two medicinal herbs Linum persicum and Euphorbia cheiradenia that are native to Iran were tested for their possible anticancer effect and induction of apoptosis on human tumor cell lines including leukemia cell lines. METHODS: The effect of methanolic extracts of the herbs on the inhibition of cell proliferation was assessed by MTT colorimetric assay. K562 and Jurkat cell lines treated with the extracts were analyzed for the induction of apoptosis by flow cytometry using propidium iodide staining. DNA fragmentation analysis was performed. RESULTS: Various concentrations of L. persicum and E. cheiradenia showed inhibitory effects on different cell lines. Two leukemic lines including K562 and Jurkat were the most sensitive cells for L. persicum with IC50 of 0.1 and 10 mug/ml, respectively. In the cultures of tumor cell lines treated with E. cheiradenia, the main inhibitory effects was for Jurkat cells with IC50 of 12.5 microg/ml. Results indicated a dose-dependent accumulation of cells in the sub-G1 phase. Study of internucleosomal DNA fragmentation showed a typical DNA laddering in agarose gels for both extracts. CONCLUSION: The present study showed cytotoxic activity of both herbs on tumor cell lines and suggests that this effect may in part be due to the induction of apoptosis in leukemic cells.

  Effects of flax fiber on laxation and glycemic response in healthy volunteers.:J Med Food. 2005 Winter;8(4):508-11.Dahl WJ, Lockert EA, Cammer AL, Whiting SJ.College of Pharmacy and Nutrition, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada. wjd@usak.ca

 We investigated whether a flax supplement taken orally or baked in a bakery product would effect the physiological responses characteristic of soluble and insoluble fiber, i.e., laxation and glycemic response, respectively. In Study 1, 26 healthy young adults consumed up to 15 g of fiber from a proprietary flax fiber supplement or as a psyllium supplement for 2 weeks once usual fecal weights were established. Changes in dietary fiber intake and acceptability of both products were evaluated. An increase in fecal weight was found with both fiber treatments. Supplemental fiber at intakes of 9.0 g/day (flax) and 10.4 g/day (psyllium) gave fecal bulking capacity of about 2.9 and 4.8 g of fecal weight/g of fiber, respectively. In Study 2, the effect of flax bread versus control white bread on glycemic response was studied. Eleven fasting subjects completed four test periods (duplicate trials of each bread) under standardized glycemic testing conditions. Paired t tests were used to analyze test compared with control peak blood glucose values (6.6 +/- 0.9 mmol/L compared with 6.9 +/- 0.7 mmol/L, P < .05, respectively) and area under the curve (AUC) (669 +/- 53 compared with 693 +/- 57, P = .015, respectively). Peak blood glucose values and AUC were improved by ingestion of flax fiber in healthy subjects. In conclusion, a flax fiber supplement provides the benefits of soluble and insoluble fiber.

  Histological study of embryo-like structures initiated from hypocotyl segments of flax (Linum usitatissimum L.).:Plant Cell Rep. 2005 Dec;24(10):590-5. Epub 2005 Nov 16.Salaj J, Petrovsk¨¢ B, Obert B, Pret'ov¨¢ A.Institute of Plant Genetics and Biotechnology, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Akademick¨¢ 2, P.O. Box 39 A, SK-950 07 Nitra 1, Slovak Republic. nrgrsala@savba.sk

 Cultivation of flax hypocotyl segments on MS medium supplemented with auxin (2,4-D, NAA) and combination of auxin (NAA) and cytokinin (BAP, zeatin) resulted in production of callus on the cut ends of segments and prolonged cultivation in globular structures resembling early stages of somatic embryos. Embryo-like structures protruded on the surface directly from the subepidermal layers of hypocotyl segments. Despite these globular structures closely resembling somatic embryos, histological observations did not reveal their embryogenic character-organogenesis was the predominant developmental morphogenic pathway. Based on our experiments, as well as on critical revision of existing reports on flax somatic embryogenesis, we conclude, that there has not yet been convincing histological proof of somatic embyogenesis from flax hypocotyl segments.

  Contributions of intermolecular interactions between constitutive arabinoxylans to the flaxseeds mucilage properties.:Biomacromolecules. 2005 Jul-Aug;6(4):1871-6.Warrand J, Michaud P, Picton L, Muller G, Courtois B, Ralainirina R, Courtois J.Laboratoire des Glucides - EPMV (CNRS-FRE 2779), IUT d'Amiens (GB), Universit¨¦ de Picardie Jules Verne, Avenue des Facult¨¦s, Le Bailly, 80 025 Amiens Cedex 1, France.

 The main fraction (about 75%) of the mucilage extracted from seeds of Linum usitatissimum which consists of arabino-xylans (AX) has been studied in dilute and semidilute regimes by SEC/MALLS analysis and rheology, respectively. It has been found that AX contains 3 populations of about 5 000 000 g mol(-1) (less than 10%), 1 000 000 g mol(-1) (about 40%), and 200 000 g mol(-1) (about 50%). We have also observed a great retention of polymer during the filtration procedure, which is much pronounced as the AX concentration increases. This evidences the presence of large aggregates in the solution. The retention can be greatly diminished if the filtration is conducted under higher temperature. Aggregation could result from the establishment of intermolecular associations via hydrogen bonds. This hypothesis seems to be confirmed by the two higher populations in molar masses which present a random coil conformation consistent with a low degree of branching. Rheological measurements, conducted at 20 g L(-1), have confirmed the association tendency leading to pseudo gels behavior. Viscoelastic properties have been evidenced by time-temperature master curves of dynamic spectra. Such master curves have also been established with addition of chaotropic (i.e., KSCN) and lyotropic (i.e., NaCl) salts. It has been shown that intermolecular associations are greatly diminished under chaotropic salts influence. This has been also confirmed by SEC/MALLS analysis. These results point out the role of hydrogen bonds in the organization of the AX system.

  Pinoresinol-lariciresinol reductases with different stereospecificity from Linum album and Linum usitatissimum.:Phytochemistry. 2005 Jun;66(11):1254-63.von Heimendahl CB, Sch?fer KM, Eklund P, Sj?holm R, Schmidt TJ, Fuss E.Institut f¨¹r Entwicklungs- und Molekularbiologie der Pflanzen, Heinrich-Heine-Universit?t D¨¹sseldorf, Universit?tsstr. 1, D-40225 D¨¹sseldorf, Germany.

 Recently it was found that cell cultures and plants of Linum species contain lignans of various chemical structures. The stereochemistry of these compounds differ among species. Cell cultures of L. album accumulate (-)-podophyllotoxin together with pure (-)-secoisolariciresinol. The presence of both enantiomers of the precursor pinoresinol indicates that in L. album cell cultures the reactions from pinoresinol to secoisolariciresinol are the first steps determining enantiospecificity in biosynthesis of podophyllotoxin. Seeds of L. usitatissimum contain almost enantiomerically pure (+)-secoisolariciresinoldiglucosid derived from (+)-secoisolariciresinol. A cell culture of this species contains a mixture of both enantiomers of pinoresinol and pure (+)-secoisolariciresinol. In order to get more insight into the mechanism of (-)- and (+)-secoisolariciresinol biosynthesis, respectively, we isolated a cDNA encoding pinoresinol-lariciresinol reductase (PLR) from L. album. The heterologously expressed PLR-La1 converts only (+)-pinoresinol into (-)-secoisolariciresinol. In contrast, the heterologously expressed PLR from L. usitatissimum converts only (-)-pinoresinol to (+)-secoisolariciresinol confirming the results from others. Comparison of all available PLR protein sequences resulted in a few amino acids which may be responsible for the action of the PLRs with respect to the different enantioselectivity. A mutagenesis approach could not confirm this hypothesis. Aspects about the evolution of PLRs are discussed.


  Pleiotropic effect of phenolic compounds content increases in transgenic flax plant.:J Agric Food Chem. 2005 May 4;53(9):3685-92.Lorenc-Kuku?a K, Amarowicz R, Oszmia¨½ski J, Doermann P, Starzycki M, Ska?a J, Zuk M, Kulma A, Szopa J.Institute of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Wroc?aw University, Przybyszewskiego 63/77, 51-148 Wroc?aw, Poland.

 The principal goal of this paper was to generate flax (Linum usitatissimum L.) plants with increased antioxidant properties. To accomplish this a vector containing a multigene construct was prepared, and transgenic plants overexpressing essential flavonoid biosynthesis pathway enzymes were generated and analyzed. The simultaneous expression of genes encoding chalcone synthase (CHS), chalcone isomerase (CHI), and dihydroflavonol reductase (DFR) resulted in a significant increase of flax antioxidant capacity. To investigate the determinants of higher antioxidant properties of transgenic plants, the phenolic acids and lignans compound contents were measured. In both green part and seed extracts from transgenic plants, the phenolic acids level was increased when compared to the control. The calculated correlation coefficient between phenolic acids content and antioxidant capacity (0.82 and 0.70 for green part and flaxseed, respectively) perfectly reflects their strong relationship. The increase in yield of transgenic plants and their higher resistance to Fusarium culmorum and Fusarium oxysporum when compared to the control plants was a characteristic feature. It was assessed a very high correlation (correlation coefficient = 0.9) between phenolic acids level in flaxseed extract and resistance to F. culmorum. The flowering date of transgenic plants was approximately 3 weeks earlier than that of the control plants. Interestingly, a significant increase in monounsaturated fatty acids and a slight increase in lignans content accompanied the increase in antioxidant properties of flaxseeds.

  Structural investigations of the neutral polysaccharide of Linum usitatissimum L. seeds mucilage.:Int J Biol Macromol. 2005 Apr;35(3-4):121-5.Warrand J, Michaud P, Picton L, Muller G, Courtois B, Ralainirina R, Courtois J.Laboratoire des Glucides-EPMV (CNRS-FRE 2779), IUT d'Amiens (GB), Universit¨¦ de Picardie Jules Verne, Avenue des Facult¨¦s, Le Bailly, 80 025 Amiens Cedex 1, France.

 The heterogeneity of the purified water-soluble neutral fraction coming from the mucilage extract of the yellow flaxseed was investigated. After fractionation by size-exclusion chromatography, the analyse of the neutral monosaccharides composition showed a mixture of three major families of polymers. They were all identified as arabinoxylans with a constant A/X ratio of 0.24, but varying in their galactose and fucose residues in the side chains. Furthermore, the molecular weight (M(w)) analysis acquired by multi-angle laser light scattered, revealed the association of two high M(w) polymers [5.7x10(6) (11.1%) and 9.3x10(5) (42.4%) g mol(-1)] with a smaller one [3.2x10(5) g mol(-1) (45.3%)].

  Methods for obtaining neutral and acid oligosaccharides from flax pectins.:Biotechnol Lett. 2005 Jan;27(1):33-40.B¨¦douet L, Courtois B, Courtois J.D¨¦partement de G¨¦nie Biologique, Laboratoire des Polysaccharides Microbiens et V¨¦g¨¦taux, IUT d'Amiens, 80025, Le Bailly, France. bedouet@mnhn.fr

 Esterified acid soluble pectins from flax (Linun usitatissimum L.) were degraded either with HCl or pectin lyase. Centrifugation and 2-propanol precipitation led to the isolation of two low molecular weight polygalacturonates after acid hydrolysis of pectins. However, after pectin lyase digestion and purification by size-exclusion HPLC, (1)H NMR analyses indicated that acetylated hairy regions, large methylated and acetylated oligogalacturonides together with small unsubstituted oligogalacturonides were produced. Thus, in a few steps, a panel of substituted neutral and acidic oligosaccharides was produced from a raw plant material. Such oligosaccharides could be useful for further fractionations such as chemical saponification and enzymatic removal of neutral sugar chains from the hairy regions. The procedures used for pectin extraction, for degradation, and for the purification of fragments seem appropriate for large-scale production of biologically active oligosaccharides from flax.

  ESTs from the fibre-bearing stem tissues of flax (Linum usitatissimum L.): expression analyses of sequences related to cell wall development.:Plant Biol (Stuttg). 2005 Jan;7(1):23-32.Day A, Addi M, Kim W, David H, Bert F, Mesnage P, Rolando C, Chabbert B, Neutelings G, Hawkins S.Laboratoire de Physiologie des Parois V¨¦g¨¦tales UPRES EA 3568 USC-INRA, USTL, 59655 Villeneuve d'Ascq, France.

 In order to learn more about the diversity of genes expressed during flax fibre cell wall formation, expressed sequence tags (ESTs) were obtained from a cDNA library derived from the outer fibre-bearing tissues of flax (Linum usitatissimum) stems (cv Hermes) harvested at the mid-flowering stage. After elimination of vector and unreadable sequences, 927 ESTs were grouped into 67 clusters and 754 singletons. The flax ESTs have been submitted to the dbEST and GenBank databases with the accession numbers 25939634 - 25940560 (dbEST) and CV478070 - CV478996 (GenBank). Functional analysis allowed the grouping of ESTs into 13 functional categories and revealed that 62 % of ESTs were similar to known sequences, while 12.4 % of ESTs presented no similarity to any known sequences and 25.6 % of ESTs corresponded to proteins of unknown function. The most highly expressed transcripts belonged to four functional categories: protein maturation and metabolism (31 ESTs), signalling (22 ESTs), the cell wall (21 ESTs) and photosynthesis (19 ESTs). 4.4 % (41) of the total ESTs were potentially related to cell wall formation and maturation. The most highly expressed cell wall EST (15 ESTs) corresponded to a beta-xylosidase gene--potentially involved in cell wall remodelling during growth and development. Other cell wall-related ESTs corresponded to cellulose synthase, xyloglucan endotranglucosylase/hydrolase (XTH), beta-galactosidases, and peroxidases. The expression patterns of different cell wall-related ESTs were determined at different developmental stages in flax plants grown under different field conditions. The potential roles of gene products associated with cell wall related ESTs in fibre cell wall development is discussed.

  Lignan accumulation in cell cultures of Linum strictum ssp. strictum L.:Acta Pharm. 2004 Dec;54(4):347-51.Vasilev N, Ionkova I.Department of Pharmacognosy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Medical University, Sofia, Bulgaria.

 Shoot, callus and hairy root cultures of Linum strictum ssp. strictum L. were initiated. The lignan 6-methoxypodophyllotoxin was detected and quantified.


  Comparison of different extraction methods for the determination of podophyllotoxin and 6-methoxypodophyllotoxin in Linum species.:J Pharm Biomed Anal. 2004 May 28;35(3):441-7.Kartal M, Konuklugil B, Indrayanto G, Alfermann AW.Ankara University, Department of Pharmacognosy, Faculty of Pharmacy, 06100 Tandogan-Ankara, Turkey. kartal@pharmacy.anjara.edu.tr

 Three extraction methods for analysis of podophyllotoxin and its derivatives from Linum species were compared. No statistical difference on the percentage of recovery were found between the methods. The "glycosidase-method" showed the best result with respect to the accuracy studies; the "acetone-method" has an advantage compared to the other methods due to its capability to calculate the aglycone, lignan glycoside and total lignan. The content of podophyllotoxin and 6-methoxypodophyllotoxin in Linum mucronatum subsp. mucronatum Bertol, Linum arboreum L., and the endemic Turkey species of Linum flavum subsp. scabrinerve Davis were determined. This is the first report on the analysis of podophyllotoxin and 6-methoxy podophyllotoxin of natural collected Linum flavum subsp. scabrinerve and Linum arboreum.

  Technologically indicative properties of straw fractions of flax, linseed (Linum usitatissimum L.) and fibre hemp (Cannabis sativa L.).:Bioresour Technol. 2004 Aug;94(1):57-63. Kym?l?inen HR, Koivula M, Kuisma R, Sj?berg AM, Pehkonen A.Department of Agricultural Engineering and Household Technology, P.O. Box 27 (Viikki F), Fin 00014 University of Helsinki, Finland. hanna-riitta.kymalainen@helenski.fi

 In this study of the behaviour of the fractions of unretted and frost-retted fibre straws in damp air, a production scale method to separate fibre and shive from fibre plants was introduced and tested on bast fibre plants (Linum usitatissimum L. and Cannabis sativa L.). The method consists of optional drying of stalks, unloading bales, milling the straws with a hammer mill, separating the fractions from air stream with a cyclone and finally separating fibres from shives with a screening drum. Fractions were characterized focusing on technologically indicative properties such as equilibrium moisture content, ash and microbiological quality. Unretted fractions of the bast fibre plant stem reached higher equilibrium moisture contents than the retted fractions, and hemp fibres absorbed more moisture from air than did the Linum fibres. In very humid air, all fractions began to lose weight due to moulding. The weight decrease during the first week was lower in frost-retted than in unretted fractions. The frost-retted fractions appeared to be more resistant to humidity in the short term. The total number of microbes and especially the numbers of yeasts and moulds can be used as a criterion of hygienic level. For green fractions, the mould level was similar in fibres and in shives, but frost-retted shives contained more moulds than the unretted shives. The mould content of a fraction had no direct correlation with the moulding tendency of the fraction. The ash contents of fibres were somewhat higher than those of shives, due to a probable soil contamination. Ash content did not have significant correlation with microbiological quality, although ash is a possible risk factor for hygienic quality. According to the results of this study it is highly important to study the quality of the production chain of bast fibre plants to ensure the quality of industrial products. From the producer's point of view, raw material with defined quality can be directed to the most suitable application. The behaviour of fractions in various ambient atmospheres, and other quality aspects such as hygienic level can be used as criteria for defining the most appropriate product applications.

  Chemical and spectroscopic analysis of lignin in isolated flax fibers.:J Agric Food Chem. 2003 Apr 23;51(9):2565-8.Morrison WH 3rd, Himmelsbach DS, Akin DE, Evans JD.R. B. Russell Agricultural Research Center, US Dept. of Agriculture/ARS, P. O. Box 5677, Athens, GA 30604, USA. whmorrison@prodigy.net

 The chemistry of pure flax fibers, free of contaminating nonfiber components, has not been determined. Fibers from the center sections of the stem of seed and fiber flax (Linum usitatissium L.), which had been retted after soaking in water and removal of the epidermis by hand, underwent chemical and spectroscopic analysis. Wet chemical analysis showed only trace indications of aromatics and no long chain fatty acids or alcohols in fibers. Pyrolysis mass spectroscopy (PyMS) and pyrolysis gas chromatography mass spectrometry (PyGCMS) showed only trace amounts of aromatic constituents that could be attributed to the presence of lignin. Mid-infrared (Mid-IR) and Raman spectroscopy of these fibers showed no aromatic compounds present. This study suggests that earlier work reporting the presence of lignin ranging from 1 to 4% may be the result of residual shive or epidermis/cuticle material remaining after the retting process which may be responsible for the favorable properties desired by the composites industry.

  Identification and stereochemical characterization of lignans in flaxseed and pumpkin seeds.:J Agric Food Chem. 2003 Feb 26;51(5):1181-8.Sicilia T, Niemeyer HB, Honig DM, Metzler M.Institute of Food Chemistry and Toxicology, Department of Chemistry, University of Karlsruhe, P.O. Box 6980, Germany.

 Phytoestrogens of the lignan type are widely distributed in plant-derived food items and are believed to protect against hormone-dependent cancer. The richest known dietary source of lignans is flaxseed. Flaxseed has been reported to contain glycosides of secoisolariciresinol as the major lignan, together with small amounts of matairesinol, isolariciresinol, and pinoresinol. Secoisolariciresinol, but none of the other lignans, has so far been identified in pumpkin seeds. In the present study, two different methods for the hydrolysis of lignan glycosides are compared. Artifact formation and loss of lignans under acidic conditions were observed. Lariciresinol was identified by GC-MS analysis in two different types of flaxseed (Linum usitatissimum L. and Linum flavum L.) and in pumpkin seeds (Cucurbita pepo L.) for the first time. Likewise, the novel lignan demethoxy-secoisolariciresinol was tentatively identified in the flaxseed samples. Stereochemical analysis by chiral HPLC of several lignans isolated from flaxseed showed that secoisolariciresinol, matairesinol, and lariciresinol consisted predominantly of one enantiomer.

  Distribution of cadmium-binding components in flax (Linum usitatissimum L.) seed.:J Agric Food Chem. 2003 Jan 29;51(3):814-21.Lei B, Li-Chan EC, Oomah BD, Mazza G.Faculty of Agricultural Sciences, Food, Nutrition and Health Program, The University of British Columbia, 6650 NW Marine Drive, Vancouver BC V6T 1Z4, Canada.

 The distribution of cadmium- (Cd-) binding components in flaxseed (cultivar NorMan) containing 0.526 ppm (ng/mg) Cd was investigated. Proteins extracted from dehulled, defatted flaxseed were fractionated by anion-exchange and size-exclusion chromatography. The contents of Cd and other metals, UV/visible spectral characteristics, and amino acid compositions of these fractions were analyzed. Over 66% of the eluted Cd was recovered by 0.1 M NaCl elution from DEAE-Sephacel, in a thiol-rich fraction representing only 7% of the extracted proteins. Sephadex G50 size-exclusion chromatography of this 0.1 M NaCl fraction concentrated most of the Cd in a low-molecular-weight peak eluting at V(t). About 72% of the extracted flaxseed proteins eluted from DEAE-Sephacel at 0.25 M NaCl and contained only 25% of the eluted Cd. Because the major Cd-binding fraction is a minor constituent of flaxseed, these results indicate the potential to isolate flaxseed's major storage protein with a low Cd content.


  Flaxseed dietary supplement versus hormone replacement therapy in hypercholesterolemic menopausal women.:Obstet Gynecol. 2002 Sep;100(3):495-504.Lemay A, Dodin S, Kadri N, Jacques H, Forest JC.D¨¦partements d'Obst¨¦trique-Gyn¨¦cologie, Centre de Recherche, H?pital St-Fran?ois d'Assise (CHUQ), Universit¨¦ Laval, Qu¨¦bec, Canada. andre.lemay@ogy.ulaval.ca

 OBJECTIVE: To assess serum lipid changes by a phytoestrogen dietary supplement compared with oral estrogen-progesterone replacement in hypercholesterolemic menopausal women. METHODS: Twenty-five menopausal patients with total cholesterol greater than 6.2 mmol/L (240 mg/dL), a cholesterol/high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol ratio greater than 4.5 and triglycerides less than 3.5 mmol/L (310 mg/dL) after a 4-month diet, were randomized to add 40 g/day of crushed flaxseed to their diet or to take daily 0.625 mg of conjugated equine estrogens alone (hysterectomy, n = 10) or combined with 100 mg of micronized progesterone (intact uterus, n = 15). After 2 months of treatment, both groups continued the diet alone during a 2-month washout period before crossing over to the alternate treatment for 2 more months. RESULTS: Differences were found between hormone replacement therapy and flaxseed respectively for decrease of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (3.8 +/- 0.2 versus 4.4 +/- 0.2 mmol/L) (148 +/- 8 versus 170 +/- 8 mg/dL) (P =.10), increase of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (1.6 +/- 0.04 versus 1.3 +/- 0.03 mmol/L) (62 +/- 1 versus 50 +/- 1 mg/dL) (P =.001), and increase of apolipoprotein A-1 (1.71 +/- 0.07 versus 1.42 +/- 0.05 g/L) (P =.003). These changes were not related to modifications in diet, exercise, or anthropometric measurements evaluated in parallel. Both treatments produced similar decreases in menopausal symptoms and in glucose and insulin levels. Only hormone replacement therapy as compared with flaxseed induced an elevation of sex hormone binding globulin (P =.004), lowered fibrinogen (P =.08), and plasminogen activator inhibitor type 1 (P =.01). CONCLUSION: Although 40 g of flaxseed is as effective as oral estrogen-progesterone to improve mild menopausal symptoms and to lower glucose and insulin levels, only hormone replacement therapy significantly improves cholesterol profile in hypercholesterolemic women and favorably modifies markers related to cardiovascular health.

  Isolation of the lignan secoisolariciresinol diglucoside from flaxseed (Linum usitatissimum L.) by high-speed counter-current chromatography.:J Chromatogr A. 2002 Jan 18;943(2):299-302.Degenhardt A, Habben S, Winterhalter P.Institute of Food Chemistry, Technical University of Braunschweig, Germany.

 High-speed counter-current chromatography was successfully used for the isolation and purification of secoisolariciresinol diglucoside, a bioactive lignan from flaxseed (Linum usitatissimum L.). The solvent system consisted of tert.-butylmethyl ether-n-butanol-acetonitrile-water (1:3:1:5). The purity and identity of the isolated compound was checked by high-performance liquid chromatography analysis in combination with mass spectrometry and NMR measurements.

  Flaxseed consumption influences endogenous hormone concentrations in postmenopausal women.:Nutr Cancer. 2001;39(1):58-65.Hutchins AM, Martini MC, Olson BA, Thomas W, Slavin JL.Department of Food Science and Nutrition, University of Minnesota, St. Paul, MN 55108, USA.

 Lignans, similar in structure to endogenous sex steroid hormones, may act in vivo to alter hormone metabolism and subsequent cancer risk. The objective of this study was to examine effects of dietary intake of a lignan-rich plant food (flaxseed) on serum concentrations of endogenous hormones and binding proteins (estrone, estrone sulfate, 17 beta-estradiol, sex hormone-binding globulin, progesterone, prolactin, dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate, dehydroepiandrosterone, androstenedione, testosterone, and free testosterone) in postmenopausal women. This randomized, crossover trial consisted of three seven-week feeding periods, during which 28 postmenopausal women, aged 52-82 yr, consumed their habitual diets plus 0, 5, or 10 g of ground flaxseed. Serum samples collected during the last week of each feeding period were analyzed for serum hormones using standard diagnostic kits. The flaxseed diets significantly reduced serum concentrations of 17 beta-estradiol by 3.26 pg/ml (12.06 pmol/l) and estrone sulfate by 0.09 ng/ml (0.42 nmol/l) and increased prolactin by 1.92 micrograms/l (0.05 IU/ml). Serum concentrations of androstenedione, estrone, sex hormone-binding globulin, progesterone, testosterone, free testosterone, dehydroepiandrosterone, and dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate were not altered with flaxseed feeding. In this group of postmenopausal women, consuming flaxseed in addition to their habitual diets influenced their endogenous hormone metabolism by decreasing serum 17 beta-estradiol and estrone sulfate and increasing serum prolactin concentrations.

  Purification of several pectin methyltransferases from cell suspension cultures of flax (Linum usitatissimum L.).:C R Acad Sci III. 2001 Apr;324(4):335-43.Bourlard T, Bruyant-Vannier MP, Schaumann A, Bruyant P, Morvan C.Scueor Esa 6037 CNRS, universit¨¦ de Rouen, 76821 Mont-Saint-Aignan, France.

 Three pectin methyltransferases (PMT5, PMT7, PMT18; EC 2.1.1.6.x) were solubilized from the endo-membrane complex of flax cells, with 0.05% Triton X-100. After a 3 step-chromatography procedure, PMT7 and PMT5 were purified to apparent homogeneity. PMT5 and PMT7 differed regarding their optimum pH (5 or 7), the methyl acceptor (low or highly methylesterified pectin), their focusing pH range (6-7 or 8-9) and relative molecular mass (40 +/- 5 or 110 +/- 10 kDa). SDS-PAGE of PMT5 and PMT7 did not reveal bands at 40 or 110 kDa but only a silver stained band of about 18 kDa. Two independent methods (photo labelling and enzymatic activity) showed that this silverstained band corresponded to a methyltransferase with affinity for pectins. This polypeptide was of the same size as the enzyme designed PMT18 (18 +/- 3 kDa; pl 4-4.5) recovered during size exclusion chromatography of either PMT7 or PMT5, suggesting that PMT18 bears the catalytic site of PMT5 and PMT7.

  Human metabolism of mammalian lignan precursors in raw and processed flaxseed.:Am J Clin Nutr. 1999 Mar;69(3):549-55.Nesbitt PD, Lam Y, Thompson LU.Department of Nutritional Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Ontario, Canada.

 BACKGROUND: The mammalian lignans enterolactone and enterodiol are produced in the colon by the action of bacteria on the plant precursor secoisolariciresinol diglycoside, which is found in high concentrations in flaxseed. OBJECTIVE: Two experiments were conducted to determine 1) whether there is a dose response in urinary lignan excretion with increasing flaxseed intake, 2) whether flaxseed processing affects lignan excretion, 3) peak plasma lignan concentrations, and 4) plasma lignan concentrations after chronic supplementation. DESIGN: Nine healthy young women supplemented their diets with 5, 15, or 25 g raw or 25 g processed (muffin or bread) flaxseed for 7 d during the follicular phase of their menstrual cycles. Twenty-four-hour urine samples were collected at baseline and on the final day of supplementation. As an adjunct to the 25-g-flaxseed arm, subjects consumed the supplement for an additional day and blood and urine samples were collected at specific intervals. All blood and urine samples were analyzed for enterolactone and enterodiol by gas chromatography-mass spectroscopy. RESULTS: A dose-dependent urinary lignan response to raw flaxseed was observed (r = 0.72, P < 0.001). The processing of flaxseed as a muffin or bread did not affect the quantity of lignan excretion. Plasma lignan concentrations were greater (P < or = 0.05) than baseline by 9 h after flaxseed ingestion (29.35+/-3.69 and 51.75+/-7.49 nmol/L, respectively). The total plasma area under the curve was higher on the eighth than on the first day (1840.15+/-343.02 and 1027.15+/-95.71 nmol x h/L, respectively). CONCLUSION: Mammalian lignan production from flaxseed precursors is dependent on time and dose but not on processing.


  Biosynthesis of Jasmonic Acid by Several Plant Species.:Plant Physiol. 1984 Jun;75(2):458-461.Vick BA, Zimmerman DC.United States Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service, North Dakota State University, Fargo, North Dakota 58105.

 Six plant species metabolized (18)O-labeled 12-oxo-cis,cis-10,15-phytodienoic acid (12-oxo-PDA) to short chain cyclic fatty acids. The plant species were corn (Zea mays L.), eggplant (Solanum melongena L.), flax (Linum usitatissimum L.), oat (Avena sativa L.), sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.), and wheat (Triticum aestivum L.). Among the products was jasmonic acid, a natural plant constituent with growth-regulating properties. The pathway is the same as the one recently reported by us for jasmonic acid synthesis in Vicia faba L. pericarp. First, the ring double bond of 12-oxo-PDA is saturated; then beta-oxidation enzymes remove six carbons from the carboxyl side chain of the ring. Substrate specificity studies indicated that neither the stereochemistry of the side chain at carbon 13 of 12-oxo-PDA nor the presence of the double bond at carbon 15 was crucial for either enzyme step. The presence of enzymes which convert 12-oxo-PDA to jasmonic acid in several plant species indicates that this may be a general metabolic pathway in plants.

  Uterotonic action of extracts from a group of medicinal plants.:Vet Med Nauki. 1981;18(4):94-8. Bulgarian.Shipochliev T.

 Water extracts (infusions) from a group of medicinal plants were studied in terms of their activity enhancing the uterine tonus in a series of experiments with a preparation of an isolated rabbit and guinea pig uterine horn. In a final extract concentration of 1 to 2 mg crude drug per 1 cm3 the plants ranked in the following descending order with regard to their tonus-raising effect on the uterus: camomile (Matricaria chamomilla L.), potmarigold calendula (Calendula officinalis L.) cockscomb (Celosia cristata L.), plantain (Plantago lanceolata L. et Plantago major L.), symphytum (Symphytum officinale L.), shepherdspurse (Capsella bursa pastoris L.), St.-John's wort (Hypericum perforatum L.). No effect showed the infusions of flax seeds (Linum usitatissimum L.) and bearberry leaves (Arctostaphylos uva-ursi L.). The combined preparation 'Antiinflamin', consisting of a pooled freeze-dried extract from three plants and chemotherapeutic agents produced a good enhancing effect, in the form of 'comprets' for intrauterine application at the rate of one compret per 2500 cm3.

  Anti-inflammatory action of a group of plant extracts.:Vet Med Nauki. 1981;18(6):87-94. Bulgarian.Shipochliev T, Dimitrov A, Aleksandrova E.

 Use was made of Wistar albino rats in which an inflammation was induced via the simultaneous injection of caraginan and prostaglandin E1 in order to evaluate the antiinflammatory activity of 6 freeze dried plant extracts. It was found that with such model of inflammation the inflammatory effect of caraginan was strongly enhanced, which was accompanied by the rapid and prolific white blood cell extravasates. The freeze-dried extracts of St. John's-wort (Hypericum perforatum L.), potmarigold calendula (Calendula officinalis L.), camomile (Matricaria chamomilla L.) and plantain (Plantago lanceolata L. et Pl. major L.) were found to suppress both the inflammatory effect and the leukocyte infiltration. The extracts of symphytum (Symphytum officinale L.) and those of flax seed (Linum usitatissimum L.) did not inhibit the inflammation, however, they suppressed the leukocyte infiltration at the 3rd and 4th hour of the induced inflammation.

  Substrate Specificity for the Synthesis of Cyclic Fatty Acids by a Flaxseed Extract.:Plant Physiol. 1979 Mar;63(3):490-494.Vick BA, Zimmerman DC.United States Department of Agriculture, Science and Education Administration, Agricultural Research, Department of Biochemistry, North Dakota State University, Fargo, North Dakota 58105.

 12-Oxo-cis-10,15-phytodienoic acid is an enzymic product obtained from incubations of (9, 12, 15)-linolenic acid with extracts of flaxseed (Linum usitatissimum L.). 13-l-Hydroperoxy-cis-9, 15-trans-11-octadecatrienoic acid, a product of lipoxygenase catalysis, was an intermediate in the enzymic synthesis of 12-oxo-cis-10, 15-phytodienoic acid from (9, 12, 15)-linolenic acid. Substrate specificity studies showed that n-3,6,9 unsaturation was an absolute requirement for conversion of polyunsaturated fatty acids into analogous products containing a cyclopentenone ring. Fatty acids with 18, 20, or 22 carbons that satisfied this requirement were effective substrates. The optimum activity of the enzyme from flaxseed was at pH 7.2.

  Fatty Acid Accumulation in Maturing Flaxseeds as Influenced by Environment.:Plant Physiol. 1966 Nov;41(9):1465-1470.Dybing CD, Zimmerman DC.Crops Research Division, ARS, United States Department of Agriculture.

 The effects of temperature and light on boll and shoot maturity and on the accumulation of fatty acids in developing seeds of flax (Linum usitatissimum L.) were determined in controlled environments. Palmitic and linoleic acids decreased but linolenic increased in percent as seed formation progressed. In the same period, oleic acid increased in percent in 1 variety and decreased in another. Increased temperatures hastened these changes and resulted in decreased iodine value of the oil at maturity.Calculated on a weight basis (mg per 1000 seeds), all 5 major fatty acids increased during seed formation. Increased temperatures initially accelerated the accumulation of all fatty acids, but the period of net fatty acid synthesis was eventually shortened in comparison with cooler temperatures. At 15 degrees and 20 degrees , linolenic acid accumulation closely paralleled the rate of boll maturation, measured by boll moisture content; at 30 degrees linolenic accumulation ceased before maturation could be detected.A photoperiod of 20 hours accelerated plant maturity resulting in decreased seed weight in comparison with a photoperiod of 16 hours. Eight hour photoperiod favored late blossoming and depressed seed weight, oil content, and fatty acid content. Weights of linoleic and linolenic acids were high in both the 16 and 20 hour photoperiods.Linolenic acid was reduced in percent and weight per 1000 seeds at light intensities of 1200 ft-c as compared with 2700 ft-c.


  Scientific References:

  1.Research Update:Linum usitatissimum L.