PHARMACOGNOSTIC AND PHYTOCHEMICAL STANDARDIZATION OF ATASI (LINUM USITATISSIMUM LINN)

Abstract

The good old days of herbal medicine is antique. Atasi (Linum usitatissimum Linn) is a beneficial herb narrated in Ayurveda. ‘Atasi’ (Atatisatatamgachhati) is the plant which is annual herbaceous growing up to 60- 120 cm of height and useful to prevent all vatavyadhi. It belongs to Linaceae family which is most important medicinal plants traditionally used for not only various diseases but also nutritional purposes. Atasi plant is source of food, feed, fiber, and medicine. Linseed oil rejuvenate body mainly due to its high content in omega-3 alpha linolenic acid (55-57%). In Ayurveda Atasi narrated in aharavarga and tailvarga due to its lots of nutritional value. It is commonly known as flax when grown for the fiber extracted from the stem and as linseed or oilseed flax when grown for the oil extracted from the seed.  Also, Flax has various properties including anti-inflammatory, analgesic, antioxidant, antimicrobial, immunomodulatory, insecticidal, antiprotozoalanalgesic, anti-hyperlipidemia, anti-hyperglycemic, anti-tumor, wound healing and Feticidal activities. The present study aims to collect nearly all available information about Ayurvedic aspect Phyto-chemical constituents, nutritional value of Flax, as well as pharmacological properties and confirmed therapeutic usage of it.