Flax (Linum usitatissimum L.): Current Uses and Future Applications

The archaeological evidence of flax cultivation dates back to >6000 BC and it is considered as one of the oldest and most useful crops. Components of flax have diverse uses. Cultivar development of flax is currently focused on enhancing the oil content and nutritional value to meet the demand of nutraceutical market supply, as an alternate source of fish oil, a rich source of eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA, C20:5) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA, C22:6). Flax seed is also rich in soluble and insoluble fibers and lignans, makes it useful as a dietary supplement. Intake of flaxseed in daily diet may reduce the risk of cardiovascular diseases such as coronary heart disease and stroke. There is also evidence that flax has anticancer effects in breast, prostate and colon cancers. Flax fiber is used in the textile industry for linen cloth and also in paper industry. The residues remaining after the oil extraction from linseed contains about 35-40% protein and 3-4% oil, a rich source of feed to livestock like cattle and buffalo. Flax is naturally high in polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA), more specifically in ra-3 fatty acids; and hence flax seed as a component of poultry meal, can provide ra-3 enriched eggs. Rapid drying linseed oil is used for several purposes in industry, including paint and flooring (linoleum) industries. Because of its novel oil profile, flax may also be a suitable platform crop for synthesis of specialized industrial and nutraceutical products