932-938The 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% -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 -linolenic acid an omega-3 (18:3, n-3) fatty acid.
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