title: Anti-inflammatory, analgesic and antipyretic activities of Linum usitatissimum L. (flaxseed/linseed) fixed oil.
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.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Faculty of Health & Medical Sciences, Allahabad Agricultural Institute-Deemed University, Allahabad 211 007, India.
authors.forename: Gaurav
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Kaithwas
authors.forename: Alok
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mukherjee
authors.forename: A K
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Chaurasia
authors.forename: Dipak K
authors.initials: DK
authors.lastname: Majumdar
mesh_terms: D018712:Analgesics, Non-Narcotic / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use / Q000633:toxicity; D000818:Animals; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use / Q000633:toxicity; D058633:Antipyretics / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use / Q000633:toxicity; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004487:Edema / Q000188:drug therapy; D005334:Fever / Q000188:drug therapy; D019597:Flax / Q000737:chemistry*; D008043:Linseed Oil / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use / Q000633:toxicity; D051379:Mice; D010146:Pain / Q000188:drug therapy; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D012639:Seeds / Q000737:chemistry; D023382:Toxicity Tests, Acute; D059551:Toxicity Tests, Subacute
chemical_list: D018712:Analgesics, Non-Narcotic; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D058633:Antipyretics; D008043:Linseed Oil