ABSTRACT
The genus Linum consists of about 200 species of annual or perennial herbs or subshrubs. Most of our knowledge of the chemical constituents of members of the genus is limited to far fewer of the species. Most of the knowledge is, not surprisingly, based on studies of L. usitatissimum, the common oilseed and fiber flax species. Traditionally the utility of flax was driven by the value of its oil and the durable linen fabrics made from the stem fibers. The presence of gums in flaxseed has long been known and these gums are now being slowly developed for food and non-food uses. More recently the principal dibenzylbutyl-type lignan found in the seed of both oilseed and fiber flax has attracted significant attention as a potential pharmaceutical or nutraceutical therapy for some forms of cancer, diabetes, cardiovascular disease and lupus nephritis (see Chapters 8, 9 and 10). Other species of the genera produce podophyllotoxin-type lignans that are of interest because of their antiviral and cytotoxic activities (see Chapter 12).
