Scientific name: Linum usitatissimum

Common names: Common flax, Flax Seeds, Linsed

Sanskrit name: Atasi

Family: Linaceae

Plant part used: Flax Seeds, Flax Seed Oil, Leaves & roots

Residual solvents: It complies with the current guideline for residual solvents (CPMP/ICH).

Storage: Keep in well-filled, well-closed container and protect from light.

Shelf life: From date of analysis, 3 months in tins, 12 months in 200-l-drums, 6 months in 1000-lcontainer.

General Description: It is a small or medium-sized tree with a rounded crown and horizontal or drooping branches. The leaves are dark green, shining, elliptic to obovate. Fruits are ovoid, 2 inches in dia., yellow or red when ripe, with 6-8 grooves. Seeds are 6-8 surrounded by a succulent aril.

Traditional uses: Flax is an erect, herb, cultivated for its oily seeds. Leaves narrow and entire. Flowers are large, blue or bluish violet and entire. Flowers are large, blue or bluish violet and pentamerous in terminal panicles. Stamens - 5 and alternating with staminodes. Fruits capsular, with five cells, each containing 2 seeds. Seeds are yellowish or blackish brown, small, flattened, oval, with smooth and shining seed coat and small albumen.

Traditional uses: The traditional medicinal uses of this multi-purpose seed are well-documented. The father of modern medicine, Hippocrates, discovered the anti-mucous and expectorant properties of linseed, and recommended it to soothe coughs. A poultice of linseed oil is effective in treating boils, pocks, burns and psoriasis due to its antiseptic and anti-inflammatory properties. A couple of spoonfuls of the seed act as a bulking agent useful to ease cases of constipation while the oil can also act as a mild laxative due to its lubricating effects, which also contributes to its use in aiding the passage of gallstones. Anecdotal evidence suggests its use in helping to leach toxic heavy metals such as lead and aluminum from the body and researchers have found that it also tends to reduce fat and sugar levels and may help prevent cancer.

Phytochemistry: Flax seed, next to fish oil, contains the highest concentration of the essential nutrient, Alpha Linolenic Acid (LNA), commonly called Omega 3.

Other constituents include:

Pharmacology:

Main Actions: Analgesic; Cancer; Cardiotonic; Demulcent; Emollient; Expectorant; Laxative; Nervine; Pectoral; Resolvent.

Main Uses: Flax Seed is used internally in habitual constipation, functional disorders of the colon resulting from the misuse of laxatives and irritable colon, as a demulcent preparation in gastritis and enteritis. These little seeds improve digestion, help stabilize blood glucose levels, fight tumor formation and enhance cardiovascular health. The freshly ground seed can be added to cereal, soups, or stews as a thickener. Regular use may help balance estrogen activity, reducing the risk of some cancers and heart disease and benefiting menopausal women.

Specification :Linseed oil

Characteristics: