Linseed (Linum usitassimum L.) belongs to the family Linaceae and the genus Linum that has 100 species.
Apart from cultivated L. usitassimum, five wild species in India have been reported.
They are L. perenne, L. strictrum, L. mysorense, L. Angustifolium and L. grandiflorum.
It has been grown from ancient times for fibre (flax) and for its seed, which is rich in oil. Linseed is an annual herbaceous plant and grows to a height of 30 to 120 cm.
Fibre types are tall growing and less branched than the seed types. It has a well-developed fibrous root system with many lateral roots.
The stem is glabrous grayish green with leaves narrow and alternate.
Fruit is a capsule, globular in shape mostly indehiscent. Seeds are compressed shinning yellow or light brown.
The seed types with branching habit have less harvest index than the fibre types. In general harevest index varies from 0.19 to 0.31.
The test weight is about 4.5 g/1,000 seeds. Number of capsules per unit area is the important yield component determining the yield and quality of linseed. Higher the plant density lesser is the capsule load per plant. Increased straw yield following increased density is stating the obvious
Flaxseed is the richest source of phytoestrogens (lignans)
Flaxseed, due to the content of soluble fiber, may have a beneficial effect on gut microbiota.
Flaxseed oil also plays a role in constipation prevention.
Daily consumption of flaxseed contributes to increasing fecal fat excretion. It may play an important role in the prevention of being overweight and of obesity
Flaxseeds contain a good amount of phenolic compounds. These phenolic compounds are well known for anticancer and anti-oxidative properties.
Basically, flaxseeds have three different types of phenolic compounds–phenolic acids, flavonoids and lignans.
Major phenolic acids present in defatted flaxseed are ferulic acid (10.9 mg/g), chlorogenic acid (7.5 mg/g), gallic acid (2.8 mg/g). Other phenolic acids include p-coumaric acid glucosides, hydroxycinnamic acid glucosides and 4-hydroxybenzoic acid that are present in low quantities
It serves as a good source of minerals especially, phosphorous (650 mg/100 g), magnesium (350–431 mg/100 g), calcium (236–250 mg/100 g) and has very low amount of sodium (27 mg/100 g) .
It contains highest amount of potassium 5600–9200 mg/kg among various foods and high potassium intake is inversely related to blood platelet aggregation, free radicals in blood and stroke incidence
Alpha-linolenic acid is the main functional component of flaxseed. It serves as an exclusive source of omega-3 fatty acid in the vegetarian diets
Lignans are phytoestrogens, which are abundantly available in fiber rich plants, cereals (wheat, barley, and oats), legumes (bean, lentil, soybean), vegetables (broccoli, garlic, asparagus, carrots) fruits, berries, tea and alcoholic beverages. Flaxseed contains about 75–800 times more lignans than cereal grains, legumes, fruits and vegetables
consuming linseeds or their derivatives may reduce total and LDL-cholesterol in the blood, with greater benefits in women and those with high cholesterol
The omega-3 fatty acid content of linseed as well as its dietary fibres are regarded as beneficial to human health and gain increasing popularity.
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