Pharmacognostical and Phytochemical evaluation of <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">Atasi</i> (<i><span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold">Linum usitatissimum </span></i><span style="mso-bidi-font-weight:bold; mso-bidi-font-style:italic">L.<span style="mso-bidi-font-weight:bold">) </span></span>

Abstract

<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal"><span style="mso-bidi-language:MR" lang="EN-GB">Atasi</span></i><span style="mso-bidi-language:MR" lang="EN-GB"> commonly called Flax seed, is a richest plant source of omega 3 fatty acids. It promotes transmission of the chemical messengers that facilitate communication between nerve cells and are associated with emotional stability (e.g. serotonin) and positive emotions (e.g. dopamine). Omega-3s have been linked to depressive conditions such as bipolar disorder, unipolar depression, borderline personality disorder, premenstrual syndrome and perinatal depression. A detailed investigation of flax seed was carried out. The microscopic characters of transverse section of seed show epidermis, pigment layer, cotyledon consist of protein mass with aleuron grains and abundant globule of fixed oil. Powder microscopic characters include lignified sclerides, aleurone grains &amp; fatty oil globules, etc. Physicochemical parameters of flax seed revealed fixed oil content (42.05%), whereas the physicochemical parameters of flax seed oil revealed loss on drying

(0.19 %w/w), refractive index (1.48), specific gravity (0.92), acid value (0.33), iodine value (170.90), saponification value (192.8). Thin layer chromatographic study of the unsaponified matter of flax seed oil showed the presence of seven and four spots in short UV, long UV, respectively. The information generated by this particular study provides relevant pharmacognostical and physicochemical data needed for proper identification and authentication of flax seed and flax seed oil.

</span>