Key Findings:
This review describes the significant biological activity of flaxseed dietary fiber (25–28 %) and α-linolenic acid (50–55 % of total fatty acids composition) with the focus on lignans: i) those found in plant seeds like secoisolariciresinol diglucoside (SDG), isolariciresinol, matairesinol, lariciresinol and ii) those found in animals and humans known as mammalian lignans. Flaxseed is the richest known source of lignans (9–30 mg per g), with lignan production at 75–800 times that of other oil seeds, cereals, legumes, and fruit and vegetables. Several of the biological and interventional studies that have been conducted on SDG in regard to prevention of lipid, protein and DNA oxidation associated with oxidative stress are highlighted.
ABSTRACT:
Lignans are a group of phytonutrients which are widely distributed in the plant kingdom. Flaxseed is the richest source of providing lignan precursor such as secoisolariciresinol diglucoside (SDG). This article reviews the studies relevant to experimental models in animals and humans demonstrating the possible nutraceutical actions of SDG to prevent and alleviate lifestyle-related diseases. A local and international web-based literature review for this project was carried out to provide information relating to the study. The major key word “SDG” was selected to gather information using the electronic databases pertaining to the current state of flaxseed lignans composition, bioactive compounds, metabolism and to find out their role in terms of chemopreventive action. The extraction methods vary from simple to complex depending on separation, fractionation, identification and detection of the analytes. The majority of studies demonstrate that SDG interferes with the development of different types of diseases like cardiovascular, diabetic, lupus nephritis, bone, kidney, menopause, reproduction, mental stress, immunity, atherosclerosis, hemopoietic, liver necrosis and urinary disorders due to its various biological properties including anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, antimutagenic, antimicrobial, antiobesity, antihypolipidemic and neuroprotective effects. Moreover, SDG has a defending mediator against various cancers by modulating multiple cell signaling pathways. As discussed in this review, SDG has shown therapeutic potential against a number of human diseases and can be recommended for discerning consumers. (Authors abstract)