Anti-inflammatory, analgesic and antipyretic activities of Linum usitatissimum L. (flaxseed/linseed) fixed oil

Indian J Exp Biol. 2011 Dec;49(12):932-8.

Abstract

The fixed oil of L. usitatissimum (flaxseed/linseed) inhibited PGE2-, leukotriene-, histamine- and bradykinin-induced inflammation. The oil also inhibited arachidonic acid-induced inflammation, suggesting its capacity to inhibit both cyclooxygenase and lipoxygenase pathways of arachidonate metabolism. In tail immersion model, the oil raised the pain threshold to a lesser extent than morphine but showed excellent peripherally acting, analgesic activity comparable to aspirin, against acetic acid-induced writhing in mouse. In typhoid paratyphoid A/B vaccine-induced pyrexia, the oil showed antipyretic activity comparable to aspirin. The oil contains 57.38% alpha-linolenic acid. Dual inhibition of arachidonic acid metabolism, antihistaminic and antibradykinin activities of the oil could account for the biological activity and the active principle could be alpha-linolenic acid an omega-3 (18:3, n-3) fatty acid.

MeSH terms

  • Analgesics, Non-Narcotic / isolation & purification
  • Analgesics, Non-Narcotic / pharmacology*
  • Analgesics, Non-Narcotic / therapeutic use
  • Analgesics, Non-Narcotic / toxicity
  • Animals
  • Anti-Inflammatory Agents / isolation & purification
  • Anti-Inflammatory Agents / pharmacology*
  • Anti-Inflammatory Agents / therapeutic use
  • Anti-Inflammatory Agents / toxicity
  • Antipyretics / isolation & purification
  • Antipyretics / pharmacology*
  • Antipyretics / therapeutic use
  • Antipyretics / toxicity
  • Disease Models, Animal
  • Edema / drug therapy
  • Fever / drug therapy
  • Flax / chemistry*
  • Linseed Oil / isolation & purification
  • Linseed Oil / pharmacology*
  • Linseed Oil / therapeutic use
  • Linseed Oil / toxicity
  • Mice
  • Pain / drug therapy
  • Rats
  • Rats, Wistar
  • Seeds / chemistry
  • Toxicity Tests, Acute
  • Toxicity Tests, Subacute

Substances

  • Analgesics, Non-Narcotic
  • Anti-Inflammatory Agents
  • Antipyretics
  • Linseed Oil