Plant Source Foods
Chuong Pham-Huy, Bruno Pham Huy in Food and Lifestyle in Health and Disease, 2022
The oil extracted from flaxseed is often called linseed oil and has been widely used for non-culinary purposes. Flaxseed oil has become a popular dietary supplement because of its reputed health-promoting properties. Flaxseed is a cultivar of Linum usitatissimum (family Linaceae). The fatty acid profile of flaxseed oil is largely comprised of polyunsaturates (66%), primarily the omega-3 fatty acid alpha-linolenic acid (ALA) (over 50%), and it is this that makes the oil oxidize rapidly (273). The oil also contains 440–588 mg/100 g of tocopherols. Flaxseed oil may reduce platelet aggregation for the prevention of blood clots and may improve autoimmune disorders. However, excessive intake of flaxseed supplement may cause hemorrhage. Due to its low oxidative stability, it has little use in food preparation.
COVID-19
Stephen T. Sinatra, Mark C. Houston in Nutritional and Integrative Strategies in Cardiovascular Medicine, 2022
Fruits and vegetables contain a wealth of phytochemicals like carotenes, polyphenols, flavonoids, and anthocyanidins. Bitter greens are also of great value in counteracting COVID-19. Bitter greens such as dandelion and arugula fortify the liver and enhance natural killer and T-cell production.44 The inclusion of whole grains and legumes in the diet provides fiber, and prebiotics along with B vitamins and zinc promote gut health and interaction of the GALT with the complete immune system. Flax seed is a source of anti-inflammatory omega-3s, but fish oil is a better source, as plant-based omega-3s are predominantly in the form of ALA (alpha-linolenic acid) which must be converted to EPA (eicosapentaenoic acid) and DHA (docosahexaenoic acid) to have an effect.45 Less than 1% is converted to EPA and DHA indicating that fish-sourced omega-3s are the only effective form. One complication of COVID-19 is coagulation defects including microthrombi. Natural products, besides omega-3s which are evidence-based blood thinners, include turmeric, cayenne pepper, cinnamon, ginger, and garlic. Other supplements and treatments which have shown benefit include high-dose vitamin C, vitamin K2, magnesium, and hydrotherapy including saunas and whirlpool baths. Finally, spirulina has been shown using in vitro studies to have antiviral activity and also positive immune modulation.46
The Integrative Coronary Heart Disease (CHD) Prevention Program
Mark C Houston in The Truth About Heart Disease, 2023
Omega-3 fats are a key family of polyunsaturated fats. There are three main omega-3s:Eicosapentaenoic acids (EPA) come mainly from fish, so they are sometimes called marine omega-3s.Docosahexaenoic acids (DHA) come mainly from fish, so they are sometimes called marine omega-3s.Alpha-linolenic acid (ALA), the most common omega-3 fatty acid in most Western diets, is found in vegetable oils and nuts (especially walnuts), flax seeds and flaxseed oil, leafy vegetables, and some animal fat, especially in grass-fed animals. The human body generally uses ALA for energy, and conversion into EPA and DHA is very limited. The conversion from ALA to EPA and DHA may be only 5%. This conversion requires several enzymes and many nutrients. Cofactor deficiencies in magnesium or vitamin B6 or interfering substances or conditions such as alcohol, trans fats, saturated fats, high omega-6 FA, obesity, insulin resistance, and DM will decrease the conversion to EPA and DHA. It is important to increase the anti-inflammatory omega-3 fatty acids in the diet and reduce the inflammatory omega-6 fatty acids. (See Figure 21.2 below.)
Flaxseed lignans alleviates isoproterenol-induced cardiac hypertrophy by regulating myocardial remodeling and oxidative stress
Published in Ultrastructural Pathology, 2023
Sanaa H. Elsayed, Nagui H. Fares, Samar H. Elsharkawy, Yomna I. Mahmoud
Flaxseed, also known as linseed, is the seed from the flax plant (Linum usitatissimum), which is a member of the Linaceae family. It is cultivated in many parts of the world for fiber and oil and was valued in Ancient and Early Modern times as both a food and medicine.5 Flaxseed is one of the richest sources of vitamins, minerals, proteins, and peptides, lipids, carbohydrates, lignans, and fibers.6 Lignans are low molecular weight polyphenols present in high concentrations in flaxseeds.7 Flaxseed lignans show significant protective effect in a variety of cardiovascular diseases, due to its anti-inflammatory,6,8 antioxidant,9,10 anti-fibrotic,11 antihypertensive,12 and anti-atherosclerotic13 activities. Accordingly, this study investigates the therapeutic effect of flaxseed lignans against cardiac hypertrophy.
Microencapsulation of Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG with flaxseed mucilage using co-extrusion technique
Published in Journal of Microencapsulation, 2021
Kawai Lai, Yuhsuan How, Liewphing Pui
Flaxseed (Linum usitatissimum L.) is one of the oldest crops that have been cultivated since the beginning of civilisation (Goyal et al.2014). It contains both soluble and insoluble fibres (Bernacchia et al.2014). The mucilage of flaxseed is located in the epidermal cell layer of the seed coat, and its extraction is achieved by aqueous method followed by a drying process (Emaga et al.2011). Seed mucilage is a soluble fibre that was hydrated and produced by mucilage secreting cells (Kreitschitz and Gorb 2018). The research claimed that seed mucilage showed good prebiotic potential as probiotics could utilise it for growth (Mueller et al.2017, Lai, et al.2020b). Its prebiotic properties are associated with the presence of arabinoxylan and were capable of stimulating the growth of L. acidophilus La-05 and has the potential to act as wall material for the encapsulation of probiotic (Bustamante et al.2015).
Biogenic zinc oxide nanoparticles-enhanced biosynthesis of lignans and neolignans in cell suspension cultures of Linum usitatissimum L
Published in Artificial Cells, Nanomedicine, and Biotechnology, 2019
Bilal Haider Abbasi, Adnan Zahir, Waqar Ahmad, Muhammad Nadeem, Nathalie Giglioli-Guivarc’h, Christophe Hano
Linum usitatissimum, a novel plant belonging to the family linaceae has a rich history regarding industrial applications—linen fiber production and linseed oil extraction—however, currently it is increasingly exploited as a great source of some health-promoting phenolic metabolites known as lignans and neolignans [1]. These metabolites are naturally occurring polyphenols, which have potential therapeutic applications mainly against different types of cancer, some microbial infections and inflammation as well. Major lignans are secoisolariciresinol diglucoside (SDG) and lariciresinol diglucoside (LDG), whereas dehydrodiconiferyl alcohol glucoside (DCG) and guaiacylglycerol-β-coniferyl alcohol ether glucoside (GGCG) are well-known neolignans [2]. Both lignans and neolignans share similar structural conformation, but they can be easily characterized by difference in (a minor but significant) bonding pattern. Generally, lignans consist of phenylpropane dimers that are bonded through the carbon atoms (C8/C8∼) of their side chains, whereas in neolignans, these dimers are connected through bond other than C8/C8∼ [3].
Related Knowledge Centers
- Dietary Supplement
- Linseed Oil
- Vegetable Oil
- Fruit
- Hygiene
- Cotton
- Linoleum
- Nutrition
- Omega-3 Fatty Acid
- Α-Linolenic Acid