Therapeutic Potential and Nutritional Phytochemical Profile of Flax Seeds
Shrushti D Desai1, Atharva N Desai1 and Firoj A Tamboli2*
1UG Students, Bharati Vidyapeeth College of Pharmacy, Kolhapur - 416013, Maharashtra, India
2Department of Pharmacognosy, Bharati Vidyapeeth College of Pharmacy, Kolhapur - 416013 Maharashtra, India
*Corresponding Author: Firoj A Tamboli, Department of Pharmacognosy, Bharati Vidyapeeth College of Pharmacy, Kolhapur - 416013 Maharashtra, India.
Received:
September 23, 2025; Published: October 30, 2025
Abstract
Linum usitatissimum or flax or linseed which is commonly used in large numbers to obtain seeds and fibres. Over the past decades, flax seeds have attracted growing interest of scientists because of the presence of a wide range of phytochemicals as well as the range of pharmacological effects. This review has given a detailed account of the pharmacognostic properties, phytochemical compounds as well as pharmacological prospects of flax seeds. The microscopic, organoleptic and macroscopic characteristics of pharmacognostics that are so crucial to pharmacogenetics and quality assurance of raw material are observed in detail through the pharmacogenetics study in detail. Phytochemical studies have identified several kinds of bioactive compounds in the plant, which are lignans (especially secoisolariciresinol diglucoside), omega-3 fatty acids (alpha-linolenic acid), flavonoids, alkaloids, and mucilage, that play a role in the therapeutic action of the plant. Detailed pharmacognostic studies highlight the macroscopic, microscopic, and organoleptic features vital for the standardization and quality control of raw material. Several types of bioactive compounds, including lignans (in particular, secoisolariciresinol diglucoside), omega-3 fatty acids (alpha-linolenic acid), flavonoids, alkaloids, and mucilage, have been identified in phytochemical studies to play a role in the therapeutic action of the plant. Pharmacological studies demonstrate heterogeneity of a variety of biological activities such as antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, hypolipidemic, antidiabetic, anticancer, and cardioprotective effects, many of which are supported by in vitro and in vivo research. This is an in-depth review aiming at relating traditional knowledge to modern pharmacological research, and this will become a single source to research scholars, health professionals, and the pharmaceutical industry.
Keywords:Linum usitatissimum; Microscopy; Functional Foods; Flavonoids; Cardioprotective; Lignans
References
- Goyal A., et al. “Flax and flaxseed oil: an ancient medicine and modern functional food”. Journal of Food Science and Technology9 (2014): 1633-1653.
- Kajla P., et al. “Flaxseed—a potential functional food source”. Journal of Food Science and Technology4 (2015): 1857-1871.
- Kaur M and Singh N. “Pharmacognostic and phytochemical evaluation of Linum usitatissimum L. seeds”. Pharmacognosy Journal3 (2017): 287-292.
- Oomah BD. “Flaxseed as a functional food source”. Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture9 (2001): 889-894.
- Touré A and Xueming X. “Flaxseed lignans: source, biosynthesis, metabolism, antioxidant activity, bio-active components, and health benefits”. Comprehensive Reviews in Food Science and Food Safety3 (2010): 261-269.
- Prasad K. “Flaxseed: a source of hypocholesterolemic and antiatherogenic agents”. Drug News and Perspectives 2 (2000): 99-104.
- Kaur, M and Singh, N. “Pharmacognostic and phytochemical evaluation of Linum usitatissimum L. seeds”. Pharmacognosy Journal3 (2017): 287-292.
- Warraich S T., et al. “Morphological and anatomical characteristics of flax (Linum usitatissimum L.) seed”. International Journal of Agriculture and Biology1 (2014): 163-168.
- Singh B and Kaur P. “Microscopic studies on seed coat of Linum usitatissimum L. and its pharmacognostic implications”. International Journal of Pharmacognosy and Phytochemical Research2 (2015): 246-250.
- Oomah BD. “Flaxseed as a functional food source”. Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture9 (2001): 889-894.
- Goyal A., et al. “Flax and flaxseed oil: an ancient medicine & modern functional food”. Journal of Food Science and Technology9 (2014): 1633-1653.
- Kaur M and Singh N. “Pharmacognostic standardization and quality control parameters of flax seeds”. International Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences and Research10 (2016): 4128-4135.
- Touré A and Xueming X. “Flaxseed lignans: source, biosynthesis, metabolism, antioxidant activity, bio-active components, and health benefits”. Comprehensive Reviews in Food Science and Food Safety3 (2010): 261-269.
- Prasad K. “Flaxseed and cardiovascular health”. The Journal of Cardiovascular Nursing3 (2005): 103-109.
- Oomah BD. “Flaxseed as a functional food source”. Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture9 (2001): 889-894.
- Kajla P., et al. “Flaxseed—a potential functional food source”. Journal of Food Science and Technology4 (2015): 1857-1871.
- Goyal A., et al. “Flax and flaxseed oil: an ancient medicine & modern functional food”. Journal of Food Science and Technology9 (2014): 1633-1653.
- Shahidi F and Ambigaipalan P. “Phenolics and polyphenolics in foods, beverages and spices: Antioxidant activity and health effects - A review”. Journal of Functional Foods 18 (2015): 820-897.
- Pan A., et al. “Meta-analysis of the effects of flaxseed interventions on blood lipids”. The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition2 (2009): 288-297.
- Prasad K. “Flaxseed and cardiovascular health". Journal of Cardiovascular Pharmacology5 (2009): 369-377.
- Adlercreutz H. “Lignans and human health”. Critical Reviews in Clinical Laboratory Sciences5-6 (2007): 483-525.
- Bloedon LT and Szapary PO. “Flaxseed and cardiovascular risk”. Nutrition Review1 (2004): 18-27.
- Demark-Wahnefried W., et al. “Pilot study of dietary fat restriction and flaxseed supplementation in men with prostate cancer before surgery: exploring the effects on hormonal levels, prostate-specific antigen, and histopathologic features”. Urology 1 (2001): 47-52.
- Hallund J., et al. “The effect of a lignan complex isolated from flaxseed on inflammation markers in healthy postmenopausal women”. Nutrition and Metabolism Cardiovascular Disease7 (2008): 497-502.
- Singh KK., et al. “Flaxseed: a potential source of food, feed and fiber”. Critical Reviews in Food Science and Nutrition3 (2011): 210-222.
- Rabetafika HN., et al. “Flaxseed proteins: food uses and health benefits”. International Journal of Food Science and Technology2 (2011): 221-228.
- Pramanik S., et al. “A review on flaxseeds: Nutritional profile, health benefits, value added products, and toxicity”. eFood3 (2023): e114.
- Kajla P., et al. “Flaxseed—a potential functional food source”. Journal of Food Science and Technology4 (2015): 1857-1871.
- Hall C., et al. “Flaxseed”. Advances in Food and Nutrition Research 51 (2006): 1-97.
- Goyal A., et al. “Flax and flaxseed oil: An ancient medicine & modern functional food”. Journal of Food Science and Technology9 (2014): 1633-1653.
- Bloedon LT and Szapary PO. “Flaxseed and cardiovascular risk”. Nutritional Review1 (2004): 18-27.
- Rodriguez-Leyva D., et al. “Potent antihypertensive action of dietary flaxseed in hypertensive patients”. Hypertension 6 (2013): 1081-1089.
- Pan A., et al. “Meta-analysis of the effects of flaxseed interventions on blood glucose and insulin sensitivity”. Journal of Nutrition2 (2009): 234-240.
- Patterson E., et al. “Health implications of high dietary omega-6/omega-3 fatty acid ratio”. Proceedings of the Nutrition Society3 (2012): 326-336.
- Chen J and Thompson LU. “Lignans and tamoxifen, alone or in combination, reduce human breast cancer xenograft growth in mice”. Nutritional Cancer1 (2003): 38-45.
- Kristensen M., et al. “Flaxseed dietary fibers lower cholesterol and increase fecal fat excretion in obese subjects”. Nutrition and Metabolism 9 (2012): 8.
- Cunnane SC., et al. “High α-linolenic acid flaxseed (Linum usitatissimum): some nutritional properties in humans”. British Journal of Nutrition2 (1993): 443-453.
- Pruthi S., et al. “Pilot evaluation of flaxseed for the management of hot flashes”. Journal of the Society for Integrative Oncology3 (2007): 106-112.
- Morris DH. “Flax - A Health and Nutrition Primer”. 4th Winnipeg: Flax Council of Canada, (2008): 25-30.
- Hall C., et al. “Flaxseed”. Advances in Food and Nutrition Research 51 (2006): 1-97.
- Goyal A., et al. “Flax and flaxseed oil: An ancient medicine & modern functional food”. Journal of Food Science and Technology9 (2014): 1633-1653.
- Gunstone FD. “Vegetable oils in food technology: Composition, properties and uses”. 2nd Chichester: Wiley-Blackwell, (2011): 168-174.
- Petit HV. “Digestion, milk production, milk composition, and blood composition of dairy cows fed whole flaxseed”. Journal of Dairy Science6 (2002): 1482-1490.
- Puglia C., et al. “Protective effect of flaxseed oil against oxidative stress in skincare”. Journal of Cosmetic Science4 (2005): 207-214.
- Prasad K. “Flaxseed and cardiovascular health”. Journal of Cardiovascular Pharmacology5 (2009): 369-377.
- Pan A., et al. “Meta-analysis of the effects of flaxseed interventions on blood lipids”. The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition2 (2009): 288-297.
- Thompson LU., et al. “Dietary flaxseed alters tumor biological markers in postmenopausal breast cancer”. Clinical Cancer Research16 (2005): 6042-6049.
- Bloedon LT and Szapary PO. “Flaxseed and cardiovascular risk”. Nutrition Review1 (2004): 18-27.
- Hallund J., et al. “Effects of supplementation with whole-grain rye, wheat, or barley on markers of oxidative stress and inflammation in healthy young adults”. The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition6 (2006): 1380-1388.
- Srichamroen A., et al. “Effect of flaxseed supplementation on coagulation and fibrinolysis in healthy adults”. Journal of the Medical Association of Thailand7 (2013): 885-892.
- Adolphe J L., et al. “Health effects with consumption of the flax lignan secoisolariciresinol diglucoside”. British Journal of Nutrition7 (2010): 929-938.
- Prasad, K. “Flaxseed: A source of hypocholesterolemic and antiatherogenic agents”. Drug News and Perspectives 2 (2000): 99-104.
- Jenkins D J., et al. “Effect of flaxseed consumption on bowel function and serum lipids in healthy young adults”. Journal of the American College of Nutrition5 (1999): 476-482.
- Bloedon L T and Szapary P O. “Flaxseed and cardiovascular risk”. Nutrition Reviews1 (2004): 18-27.
- Tamboli FA. “Tracing the path from nature to pharmaceuticals in drug discovery”. Journal of Pharmaceutical and Biological Sciences1 (2025): 1-3.
- Thompson LU., et al. “Dietary flaxseed alters tumor biological markers in postmenopausal breast cancer”. Clinical Cancer Research10 (2005): 3828-3835.
- Asavari R Rasam., et al. “Molecular Pharmacognosy and Nutrition: Unlocking Bioactive Compounds for Human Health". Acta Scientific Nutritional Health6 (2025): 51-57.
Citation
Copyright