Slight resemblance to : Perennial Flax

The fibres from the stems of Flax are used to make Linen, derived from the Latin name. The fibres are also used in making textiles, carpets, twine, ropes and bags. The seeds to make linseed oil which is used to 'oil' cricket bats, in oil paints, in varnishes and printing inks, as well as taken orally to treat chronic constipation and irritable colons, spasmodic colitis and diverticulitis.

CYANOGENIC GLYCOSIDES Linseed oil is obtained from the seeds of flax, The name Linseed which is derived from the latin name for flax, Linum. The seeds of Flax contain up to 1% in total of four cyanogenic glycosides illustrated above. Linamarase (not shown) which is present within the cell but unable to gain access to the cyanogenic glycosides until the cell membranes are ruptured will, when the cells are ruptured, liberate both prussic acid [HCN] and acetone [(CH3)2CO] from the cyanogenic glycoside, whilst at the same time releasing the chemically-bound sugar units. Both Linamarin and Lotaustralin are mono-glycosides, whereas Linustrin and Neolinustrin are di-glycosides. The liberated hydrocyanic acid is the toxic fraction, preferentially binding to haemoglobin rather than oxygen, thus depriving the body (and brain) of essential oxygen. Thus death from asphyxiation is the result of cyanide poisoning. The released acetone is mild in comparison, unlike the cyanide, there is not enough of it to be detrimental to health; the cyanide will kill before the acetone has a chance to do anything. (The lower two glycosides will probably, because of the extra CH2, liberate methyl ethyl ketone [MEK] rather than acetone [or dimethyl ketone]). Treatment for cyanide poisoning can include intravenous injection of sodium nitrite, which oxidizes the haemoglobin to methaemoglobin. This, however, is not innocuous, as this is the modus operandi of nitrite poisoning: the oxygen cannot now bind to methaemoglobin. The resulting condition methaemoglobinemia also needs to be treated using methylene blue. Cyanide preferentially binds to the methaemoglobin producing cyanmethaemoglobin, which prevents oxygen uptake. An intravenous injection of sodium thiosulphate converts the cyanmethaemoglobin into thiocyanate (which is readily excreted), sulphite, and haemoglobin. Finally, inhalation of amyl nitrate will dilate the blood vessels, increasinging blood flow. Other methods are being experimented on. The only difference between upper and lower molecules in the structural formulae above are the extra CH2 of the lower molecules. The seeds of other species of flax such as L. catharticum,  L. flavum,  L. perrene,  L. narbonense  and L. grandiflorum  also contain these cyanogenic glycosides. Animals fed on large amounts of seed-cake or linseed will have spasms, suffer paralysis, and possibly death by cyanide poisoning. Human poisoning from consuming flax seeds are rarely fatal since the seeds, being so small, would be swallowed whole. For Modus Operandi of Cyanogenic Glycosides, see Bracken

TRITERPENE STEROIDS Several triterpene steroids are also present in species of flax. As can be seen, these four sterols are chemically similar to each other, and therefore to cholesterol. All four are possess one functional alcohol group (lower left). they are insoluble in water but soluble in plant oils or fats. These so-called phytosterols may, somewhat paradoxically, help to inhibit the uptake of cholesterols in the diet. Paradoxical, because cholesterol is itself one! A vegetable oil marketed under the collective name of cholestatin which contains campesterol, stigmasterol and brassicasterol (but specifically not cholesterol) is used as a dietary supplement for the reduction of blood cholesterol (which in mammals is normally used within cell membranes). Campesterol is transported out of the body by low density LDL molecules, which are presumably activated and transport out cholesterol at the same time. Stigmasterol, alone here, is an un-saturated sterol, in that the side branch has a double bond. Brassicasterol is a steroid found not only in many species of Brassica, such as Oil-Seed Rape but also in Cultivated Flax. It also widely occurs in several marine algae (phytoplankton) and has been used as a bio-marker for the presence of marine algal matter in the environment. It is chemically related to Campesterol, Cholesterol and more closely to Stigmasterol. Stigmasterol is used as the starting material in the synthetic production of Progesterol, a human hormone. Stigmasterol itself may also have useful pharmacological properties in helping prevent certain cancers such as colon, ovarian and prostrate. Cholesterol is synthesised within the human body and is an essential constituent of cell membranes in mammals. It is also ingested in considerable quantities in the diet by way of phytosterols generated within plants. High values of cholesterol in the blood are a for health concern, because of their ability to coat blood vessels and thus block blood-flow within capilliaries. Cholesterol is also the insulating substance within the myelin sheath of Schwann cells, which wrap around the axons of neurons to electrically isolate them from their surroundings, thus enormously speeding up the transmission of electrical impulses over large distances within the mammalian body. As such, cholesterol is indispensable, but too much is a bad thing. If the myelin sheath is imperfect or thin, then neurons can leak their electrical impulses to nearby neurons. This leakiness may, contrary to belief, increase the intelligence of those so afflicted, for well-connected neurons bestow greater intelligence. It has long been suspected that those with mild psychological or neurological conditions such as Autism, Parkinsons or mild Alzheimers have a greater intelligence and creativity, even to such an extent as to have savant capabilities. Professor Steven Hawking is just one example from the many that abound. Leaky myelin sheaths on neurons within the brain could paradoxically contribute to this enhanced brain performance.

PODOPHYLLOTOXINS Podophyllotoxin (pharmaceutically called Podofilox) is a lignan(e). The singly-methylated version of podophyllotoxin (and other lignanes) are also present in flax, mainly in the roots. Note that only Podophyllotoxin is shown; the author does not know where methyl group is attached, but it probably substitutes the hydrogen atom on the OH. Some Linum species (especially Linum catharticum have been used as purgatives on account of their podophyllotoxin content. Podophyllotoxins cause severe diarrhoea and block the process of cell division; they are thus toxic as their name suggests. The podophyllotoxins (and Pinoresinols) are extremely allergenic, responsible for over 2 million poisoning incidents. Rhus contact dermatitis is persistent and can last for weeks, months or even years; and long-delayed relapse is common. Eye contact can lead to blindness. Podofilox (podophyllotoxin) is used to treat genital warts since it has a keratolytic action. It is also used phamaceutically as an anti-tumour and anti-cancer agent. The symptoms of oral poisoning by podophyllotoxins is strong irritation of the mucosa and eyes, serious gastroenteritis, abdominal colic, vomiting, diarrhoea, cough, tachycardia, arrhythmia, polyneuritis, central & peripheral nervous system damage, nephritis, spasms, delirium, coma and finally death by respiratory arrest. Podophyllotoxin is also contained in plants of Genus Podophyllum such as American Mayapple (Podophyllum peltatum), in members of the Milkwort Genus (Polygalaceae), members of the Anthriscus Genus (Bur Chervil), in the Juniper Genus and in the Barberry Family.

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