Key Findings:
Blood cholesterol lowering health claims are permitted for phytosterols in Canada, the US and Europe. They are found in plants and besides heart health effects, have also been shown to have anti-inflammatory, anti-bacterial, anti-ulcerative and antitumor properties. This research reported that the phytosterols found in flaxseed (linseed) include 4-desmethylsterols, 4, 4-dimethylsterols and 4-monomethylsterols composition during linseed development. When measured throughout germination and growth, immature seeds were found to have the highest among of beneficial phytosterols. It would be of interest to assess the clinical effects of flaxseed derived phytosterols.
ABSTRACT:
A comparative study was performed to determine the free sterols content and composition during the development of three varieties of linseed (H52, O116 and P129). Seed samples were collected at regular intervals from 7 to 60 days after flowering (DAF). Ten compounds were identified: cholesterol, campesterol, brassicasterol, stigmasterol, beta-sitosterol, D5-avenasterol, cycloartenol; 24-methylene cycloartanol, obtusifoliol, citrostadienol. The maximum level of 4-desmethylsterols (1515 mg/100 g oil) was reached at 7 DAF in P129 variety. H52 had the highest level of 4-4 dimethylsterols (355 mg/100 g oil) at 28 DAF. The greatest amount of 4-monomethylsterols (35 mg/100 g oil) was detected in H52 at 14 DAF. During linseed development, b sitosterol (830 mg/100 g oil) was the major 4-desmethylsterols, followed by campesterol (564 mg/100 g oil) and stigmasterol (265 mg/100 g oil). Some of these compounds followed nearly the same accumulation pattern during linseed maturation. (Authors abstract)
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