Plant Foods for Human Nutrition (2024) 79:159–165

https://doi.org/10.1007/s11130-023-01136-9

RESEARCH

Comparison of Yield Characteristics, Chemical Composition, Lignans

Content and Antioxidant Potential of Experimentally Grown Six
Linseed (Linum usitatissimum L.) Cultivars
Markéta Jarošová1 · František Lorenc2 · Jan Bedrníček2 · Eva Petrášková2 · Marie Bjelková3 · Veronika Bártová1 ·
Eva Jarošová1 · Zbyněk Zdráhal4 · Jan Kyselka5 · Pavel Smetana2 · Jaromír Kadlec2 · Adéla Stupková1 · Jan Bárta1

Accepted: 23 December 2023 / Published online: 18 January 2024

© The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature 2024

Abstract
Linseed represents a rich source of nutritional, functional and health-beneficial compounds. Nevertheless, the chemical
composition and content of bioactive compounds may be quite variable and potentially affected by various factors, includ-
ing genotype and the environment. In this study, the proximate chemical composition, lignans content and antioxidant
potential of six experimentally grown linseed cultivars were assessed and compared. A diagonal cultivation trial in the
University of South Bohemia Experimental Station in České Budějovice, Czech Republic, was established in three sub-
sequent growing seasons (2018, 2019 and 2020). The results showed that the cultivar and growing conditions influenced
most studied parameters. The lack of precipitation in May and June 2019 negatively affected the seed yield and the level
of secoisolariciresinol diglucoside but did not decrease the crude protein content, which was negatively related to the oil
content. The newly developed method for lignans analysis allowed the identification and quantification of secoisolarici-
resinol diglucoside and matairesinol. Their content correlated positively with the total polyphenol content and antioxidant
assays (DPPH and ABTS radical scavenging activity), indicating the significant contribution to the biofunctional proper-
ties of linseed. On the other hand, we did not detect minor linseed lignans, pinoresinol and lariciresinol. The results of
this study showed the importance of cultivar and growing conditions factors on the linseed chemical composition and the
lignans content, determining its nutritional and medicinal properties.

Keywords Linum usitatissimum L. · Flaxseed · Linseed · Chemical composition · Lignans · Secoisolariciresinol

diglucoside

Markéta Jarošová and František Lorenc contributed equally to this

work.

3
František Lorenc Department of Legumes and Technical Crops, Agritec Plant
[email protected] Research, Ltd. Zemědělská 2520, Šumperk
787 01, Czech Republic
1
Department of Plant Production, Faculty of Agriculture 4
Mendel Centre of Plant Genomics and Proteomics, Central
and Technology, University of South Bohemia in České
European Institute of Technology, Masaryk University,
Budějovice, Na Sádkách 1780, České Budějovice
Brno 625 00, Czech Republic
370 05, Czech Republic
5
2 Department of Dairy, Fat and Cosmetics, Faculty of
Department of Food Biotechnologies and Agricultural
Food and Biochemical Technology Prague, University of
Products’ Quality, Faculty of Agriculture and Technology,
Chemistry and Technology, Technická 5, Prague
University of South Bohemia in České Budějovice,
166 28, Czech Republic
Studentská, České Budějovice 1668, 370 05, Czech Republic

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160 Plant Foods for Human Nutrition (2024) 79:159–165

Introduction significantly correlated with the content of SDG and other

phenolic compounds. Besides genotype, specific environ-
The flax (Linum usitatissimum L.) is a traditional and one of mental conditions may also affect the lignan content. In a
the oldest crops grown by humans since ancient times as a recent study, Zare et al. [18] observed that moisture stress
fibre or oilseed crop. A seed of oilseed flax (linseed) is com- was responsible for an increased lignan content in brown-
posed of fat (37–41%), total dietary fibre (28–29%), pro- seeded cultivars.
tein (20%), moisture (6.5–7.7%), and ash (2.4–3.4%) [1]. Along with lignans, also other parameters of linseed may
Some of its constituents represent valuable nutrients and be affected by various factors. The seed yield and the protein
bioactive compounds. The high nutrient profile of linseed content can vary due to the environment rather than geno-
is determined mainly by high-quality oil with a balanced type, whereas the environment is responsible for the higher
ratio of omega-3 and omega-6 essential fatty acids [2], pro- variance of the oil content [19]. Zhang et al. [15] found that
teins with an amino acid profile similar to soybean protein oil and fatty acid composition is determined by genotype,
[3] and the high content of soluble and insoluble fibres [4]. environment, and their combination. Yield characteristics of
The beneficial linseed bioactive compounds are represented flax can be affected by production practices. Rossi et al. [20]
by polyunsaturated fatty acids, lignans, proteins, cyclic pep- have recently suggested that milder and wetter conditions
tides and dietary fibres [5]. These compounds may benefit may be more favourable for linseed cultivation and lead to a
human health, especially by reducing risks associated with higher seed yield and oil content. Yield characteristics were
heart disease, cancer, diabetes or stroke [6]. also reported to be significantly influenced by high tempera-
The linseed contains three different types of phenolic ture and soil type [21].
compounds – phenolic acids, flavonoids and prevailing Since the genotype and environmental effects on the lin-
lignans [2]. Lignans are macromolecular diphenolic com- seed properties have been studied, complex works focus-
pounds formed by oxidative coupling of two cinnamyl ing on all these relationships in a wider context are scarce,
alcohol or cinnamic acid residues, linked by β carbon by because most of the studies mentioned above focused only
their side chains [7]. In linseed, they occur in the form on certain aspects of linseed quality. In this study, we deter-
of oligomeric complexes composed by a framework of mine and compare the effects of the cultivar and weather on
secoisolariciresinol diglucoside (SDG) interconnected the yield characteristics, proximate chemical composition,
through 3-hydroxy-3-methyl glutaric acid and complexed antioxidant potential and especially lignans content (namely
with p-coumaric and ferulic acids into lignan macromo- SDG, SECO, LARI, PINO and MATA) of six different lin-
lecular structure [8]. According to the literature, SDG is a seed cultivars. Furthermore, the relationships between the
significantly predominant lignan in linseed with a relative studied parameters were also evaluated.
abundance of 95% and is formed by glycosylation of secoiso-
lariciresinol (SECO). The minor lignans are represented by
matairesinol (MATA), lariciresinol (LARI) and pinoresinol Materials and Methods
(PINO) [9]. Compared to the SDG and SECO, literature
describing the presence of minor lignans is slightly outdated The Materials and Methods section is presented in Supple-
[10, 11]. Moreover, there is no evidence for the distribu- mentary material 1.
tion of these compounds among different linseed cultivars
in relation to agroecological conditions. Linseed lignans
exhibit a wide scale of biological activities (e.g., antioxi- Results and Discussion
dant, anticancer, antimicrobial, anticholesterol, antidiabetic,
anti-inflammatory, estrogenic or antiestrogenic and anti- Cultivation Conditions and Yield Characteristics
depressant properties) [12]. They are also precursors for gut
microbiota-derived mammalian phytoestrogens enterolig- The soil of the cultivation trial site has been character-
nans (enterodiol and enterolactone), possessing mainly anti- ized as a brown, acidic (pH 6.1 in 2018, 5.0 in 2019, 5.7 in
inflammatory and apoptotic activities [13]. The content of 2020), loamy sand Cambisol. The agrochemical soil analy-
lignans in linseed is extraordinary and ranges between 9 and ses showed a moderate content of nutrients, which varied
30 mg per gram of seed, which is 95–800 times over other between the cultivation seasons (Table S3). Based on the
plant sources, followed by sesame seeds and rye bran [14]. meteorological data shown in Fig. S1, the weather condi-
SDG content can vary according to the genotype of linseed tions were characterized by a similarity of temperature
and environment, while the effect of cultivar is appointed to within studied years and its normal development during the
be more significant in the relevant studies [15–17]. Garros growing seasons (April → August) with the seasonal tem-
et al. [16] reported that the antioxidant activities of linseed perature sums: 89.1 °C in 2018, 84.3 °C in 2019 and 77.1 °C

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Plant Foods for Human Nutrition (2024) 79:159–165 161

in 2020. On the other hand, the substantial differences in thousand-seed weight between ten genotypes were also
the precipitation conditions between growing seasons (pre- found by Kaya et al. [25].
cipitation sums: 302.2 mm in 2018, 191.1 mm in 2019 Both yield parameters were positively correlated. The
and 428 mm in 2020) were obvious and possibly affected beneficial effect of thousand-seed weight on seed yield was
the chemical composition of linseeds, as discussed subse- also observed by Rossi et al. [20]. Accordingly, brown-
quently in the manuscript. seeded cultivars (Agram, Libra, Flanders) exhibited a higher
Our results showed the differences in the average seed yield and thousand-seed weight than yellow-seeded culti-
yield (2.91 t/ha in 2018, 1.42 t/ha in 2019 and 2.47 t/ha in vars (Amon, Agriol, Raciol), indicating a potential positive
2020), whereas the significantly lower yield in 2019 was relation of colour and yield parameters. However, more
observed by all cultivars (Table 1). The low seed yield could cultivars should be involved for a more trustable compari-
have been affected by the relative drought in that year, espe- son of yield and other parameters assessed within this study
cially in May and June, representing the vegetative and related to linseed colour. The obtained results confirmed the
flowering periods of flax. Anastasiu et al. [22] described significant impact of the environment and genotype on the
May and June as a critical period for the moisture need and linseed yield characteristics. While the seed yield seemed
uptake crucial for linseed development and the subsequent to be mainly affected by the weather, the thousand-seed
high seed yield in the moderate climate. A negative effect weight parameter depended rather on genotype. Therefore,
of water shortage in the spring season on the seed yield was cultivar selection, as the influenceable factor, may represent
also confirmed in a more recent study [23]. Oppositely, the an important aspect of yield optimization.
higher precipitation sum in 2020 was potentially responsi-
ble for the lower seed yield compared to 2018. The signifi- Proximate Chemical Composition
cant effect of the environmental conditions and agronomic
practices was also reported in the recent study by Rossi et al. The proximate compositions of linseeds of each cultivar
[20]. The authors also found that abiotic stress in the form of obtained in three growing years are presented in Table 2.
low rainfall and high temperature negatively affects the seed The reported data show particular differences in oil and
yield, whereas these findings also correspond with the older crude protein content among cultivars or years. On the other
study performed by Casa et al. [21]. In our research, differ- side, no differences between studied cultivars or growing
ences between cultivars in seed yield were only observed seasons in the ash and carbohydrates content were observed.
between selected cultivars in 2018 and 2020, whereas in the The interesting phenomenon was observed within
year 2019 they were not significant. This finding is partly the crude protein content ranging from 15.8 to 21.5% in
coherent with the results reported by Saastamoinen et al. fresh weight (FW), where significantly lower values were
[19], who states there were no significant differences in observed at four cultivars (two cultivars had insignificantly
yield between ten linseed cultivars. As shown in Table 1, lower content) in the season 2018, compared to years 2019
the thousand-seed weights ranged from 5.3 to 7.0, which and 2020, exhibiting deviated precipitation in a critical
seemed to be affected more by the cultivar than by the seed period of linseed growth. This finding may potentially show
yield since we observed the differences between cultivars the positive effect of a seasonal precipitation shortage or
in every growing year, and oppositely, the inter-year vari- surplus on the crude protein content. The oil content ranged
ability within three cultivars was insignificant. Correspond- from 34.2 to 40.7% in FW, which is slightly less than the
ingly, the enormous differences in thousand-seed weights oil content of six Chinese cultivars (36.7 to 41.9% FW)
of 16 cultivars ranging from 3.5 to 11.5 g were reported reported by Zhang et al. [26]. Saastamoinen et al. [19] stated
by Diedrichsen et al. [24]. The significant differences in the differences between oilseed cultivars in oil, ranging
from 42.5 to 48.8% in dry matter (DM) and protein content

Table 1 Yield and thousand-seed weight of different linseed cultivars cultivated in three subsequent growing seasons
Parameter Year Linseed cultivar
Amon Agram Agriol Raciol Libra Flanders
Ca BCa Bca Bca Aa
Seed yield (t/ha)* 2018 2.48 ± 0.10 2.69 ± 0.20 2.83 ± 0.20 2.82 ± 0.23 3.66 ± 0.30 2.97 ± 0.08Ba
b c c b c
2019 1.41 ± 0.08 1.46 ± 0.14 1.43 ± 0.12 1.43 ± 0.21 1.44 ± 0.07 1.34 ± 0.08b
Ba Bb Bb Aa Ab
2020 2.34 ± 0.27 2.14 ± 0.07 2.36 ± 0.12 2.74 ± 0.23 2.83 ± 0.17 2.38 ± 0.02Aba
D Aa BC CD Aba
Thousand-seed weight 2018 5.49 ± 0.13 7.00 ± 0.08 6.08 ± 0.09 5.83 ± 0.02 6.67 ± 0.10 6.04 ± 0.07Cda
(g) 2019 5.33 ± 0.27 B
6.39 ± 0.19 Ab
5.61 ± 0.52 B
5.50 ± 0.17 B
5.75 ± 0.29 Bb
5.50 ± 0.17Bb
C Aa BC C Aba
2020 5.90 ± 0.08 6.89 ± 0.12 6.29 ± 0.09 6.09 ± 0.10 6.64 ± 0.11 6.22 ± 0.14Bca
A−D
*Seed yield is standardized to 8% moisture content; values with different superscripts (cultivars) within a row differ significantly (p < 0.05);
a−c
values with different superscripts (years) within a column differ significantly (p < 0.05); n = 5

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162 Plant Foods for Human Nutrition (2024) 79:159–165

Table 2 Proximate chemical composition of different linseed cultivars cultivated in three subsequent growing seasons
Component Year Linseed cultivar
(% in FW) Amon Agram Agriol Raciol Libra Flanders
Fat 2018 37.54 ± 1.33B 39.02 ± 0.70AB 37.71 ± 0.82B 38.26 ± 0.22Aba 40.71 ± 1.94A 38.67 ± 2.04AB
2019 36.03 ± 1.11AB 36.71 ± 0.41AB 36.03 ± 0.51AB 34.18 ± 0.68Bb 37.43 ± 0.57A 34.86 ± 1.40AB
2020 ab
36.37 ± 0.83 36.99 ± 0.81 36.91 ± 0.54 35.53 ± 1.75 37.41 ± 1.86 35.57 ± 1.30
Crude protein 2018 17.77 ± 1.18b 16.89 ± 1.91b 18.14 ± 0.59 17.18 ± 1.06b 17.66 ± 1.02b 15.81 ± 1.08b
ab a a a
2019 19.83 ± 0.59 20.53 ± 1.36 19.87 ± 1.48 21.01 ± 0.62 20.61 ± 0.92 20.39 ± 1.32a
a a a a
2020 21.25 ± 0.33 20.93 ± 0.59 20.29 ± 0.49 21.47 ± 0.79 21.25 ± 1.00 20.24 ± 0.76a
Ash 2018 3.48 ± 0.06 3.38 ± 0.04 3.41 ± 0.12 3.50 ± 0.10 3.41 ± 0.10 3.45 ± 0.13
2019 3.34 ± 0.05 3.38 ± 0.14 3.31 ± 0.06 3.40 ± 0.07 3.51 ± 0.04 3.44 ± 0.17
2020 3.59 ± 0.07 3.50 ± 0.04 3.61 ± 0.12 3.75 ± 0.05 3.67 ± 0.06 3.64 ± 0.09
Moisture 2018 6.27 ± 0.14AB 6.69 ± 0.24A 6.53 ± 0.07Aa 6.33 ± 0.05AB 5.98 ± 0.10B 6.48 ± 0.21Aa
b
2019 6.01 ± 0.05 6.32 ± 0.09 5.99 ± 0.07 6.08 ± 0.17 5.88 ± 0.12 6.21 ± 0.15a
B A Bb B B
2020 5.75 ± 0.13 6.47 ± 0.71 5.55 ± 0.05 5.87 ± 0.19 5.76 ± 0.20 5.59 ± 0.20Bb
Carbohydrates* 2018 34.94 ± 1.15 34.03 ± 2.02 34.21 ± 0.55 34.73 ± 0.87 32.23 ± 2.50 35.59 ± 1.33
2019 34.79 ± 1.29 33.07 ± 1.36 34.80 ± 1.56 35.32 ± 1.21 32.58 ± 0.71 35.10 ± 1.93
2020 33.04 ± 0.80 32.11 ± 1.32 33.64 ± 0.69 33.39 ± 2.63 31.92 ± 0.94 34.97 ± 2.02
FW: fresh weight; *calculated value (100 - % fat - % crude protein - % moisture - % ash); A−Bvalues with different superscripts (cultivars) within
a row differ significantly (p < 0.05); a−bvalues with different superscripts (years) within a column differ significantly (p < 0.05); n = 5

(19.4–25.2% DM). Unlike the study reporting no significant of lignans presented in linseed samples after alkaline and
differences in oil content (37.1–39.2% DM) between six acidic hydrolysis. SDG and MATA were detected and quan-
cultivars Čeh et al. [23], we found differences between some tified, but LARI and PINO were determined neither after
cultivars in 2018 and 2019. The cultivar Libra exhibited the alkaline nor after acidic hydrolysis (they were below LOD).
highest content (38.5% FW on average) within three years. The content of SECO is also not reported even though we
In our research, we observed that the oil content was deter- have detected it after the acidic hydrolysis. The reason for
mined by the genotype and the environment but not by their this decision represents the fact that SECO transforms into
combination. The possible significant effect of the genotype anhydroSECO to some extent under acidic conditions [8],
on the oil content may be determined by the linseed colour leading to underestimation of results. In addition, reporting
since the oil content of brown-seeded cultivars was signifi- a glycosylated form of SECO (SDG) is more suitable since
cantly higher compared to yellow-seeded cultivars. Related it is a natural form of SECO in linseed. We found the con-
to the lack of precipitation in 2019, we found that the oil tent of SDG with a quite variable range (4.9–12.2 mg/g DM)
content in the linseed grown in that season was the lowest and it was affected by the year only in four cultivars, while
by all cultivars except Libra. This finding corresponds to the two cultivars were unaffected (Table 3). Moreover, these
study by Anastasiu et al. [22] since they also observed the two Dutch cultivars (Libra and Flanders) exhibit signifi-
lowest oil content in six linseed cultivars (from seven culti- cantly lower SDG content than the remaining Czech culti-
vars in total) grown in Romania during only one year (from vars. Compared to SDG, MATA was detected in the samples
nine years in total), exhibiting extreme drought in May and at a much lower level (1.6 to 3.8 µg/g DM) and only after
June. acidic hydrolysis, which indicates it occurs in glycosylated
We observed a negative correlation between oil and crude form only. Nevertheless, the specific natural form of MATA
protein content, whereas both parameters depended on the (namely, the position and number of sugar moieties) in the
year (Table S3). This relationship was confirmed by several linseed matrix remains unknown.
studies [19, 27, 28] and indicated that a higher amount of Saastamoinen et .al. [19] observed the influence of the
oil usually leads to a lower protein content and vice versa. different cultivation sites during four cultivation seasons
and of the genotypes (ten cultivars) on the SDG content
Analysis of Lignans, Total Phenolic Content and (3.6–7.6 mg/g DM). Zhang et al. [15] indicated that the dif-
Antioxidant Activities ferences among six linseed cultivars affect the SDG content
(4.7–7.3 mg/g FW) more than cultivation of linseeds in dif-
The original method combining HPLC separation and triple ferent environments (eight growing sites and two seasons).
quadrupole MS/MS in dynamic MRM mode was newly Also, the level of other lignans (SECO and MATA) can be
developed and validated for a target analysis of linseed lig- determined by the cultivar and growing site. However, it
nans (Supplementary material 1). Table 3 shows the content is hard to compare the results of MATA with the literature

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Plant Foods for Human Nutrition (2024) 79:159–165 163

Table 3 Content of lignans, total polyphenol content and antioxidant activity (DPPH and ABTS) in different linseed cultivars cultivated in three
subsequent growing seasons
Chemical composition Year Linseed cultivar
Amon Agram Agriol Raciol Libra Flanders
SDG 2018 12.24 ± 1.49Aa 11.09 ± 1.57Aa 9.85 ± 0.55Aba 11.32 ± 0.20Aa 7.36 ± 0.87B 7.30 ± 0.51B
(mg/g DM) 2019 7.79 ± 0.62 b
7.25 ± 1.20 b
5.64 ± 0.33 b
6.39 ± 0.32b
4.88 ± 0.81 5.20 ± 0.74
2020 9.92 ± 1.92Abab 10.25 ± 1.23Abab 7.68 ± 2.34Bcab 11.27 ± 0.90Aa 7.28 ± 1.87BC 6.36 ± 0.50C
MATA 2018 2.84 ± 0.51AB 2.69 ± 0.41AB 2.78 ± 0.23AB 3.41 ± 0.44A 2.14 ± 0.57AB 1.58 ± 0.05B
(µg/g DM) 2019 2.54 ± 0.72 AB
3.79 ± 0.57 A
2.34 ± 0.67 B
3.18 ± 0.58AB
1.81 ± 0.31B 2.12 ± 0.69B
2020 2.61 ± 0.16 2.72 ± 0.50 2.51 ± 0.62 2.81 ± 0.30 1.99 ± 0.15 1.57 ± 0.09
TPC 2018 1.90 ± 0.08AB 2.15 ± 0.14A 1.40 ± 0.21B 1.96 ± 0.15A 1.43 ± 0.08B 1.44 ± 0.08B
(mg GAE/g DM) 2019 1.83 ± 0.06 A
1.79 ± 0.15 A
1.48 ± 0.39 AB
1.46 ± 0.09AB
1.12 ± 0.02 B
1.20 ± 0.13B
B A B B C
2020 1.73 ± 0.17 2.53 ± 0.27 1.58 ± 0.45 1.90 ± 0.16 1.37 ± 0.19 1.33 ± 0.15C
AB A B AB B
DPPH 2018 5.75 ± 0.33 6.14 ± 0.47 5.25 ± 0.37 5.68 ± 0.22 4.94 ± 0.39 5.15 ± 0.14B
(mg TE/g DM) 2019 4.98 ± 0.35 AB
5.66 ± 0.50 A
4.68 ± 0.51 B
4.90 ± 0.22AB
4.60 ± 0.29 B
4.78 ± 0.25B
B A B AB B
2020 5.26 ± 0.17 6.36 ± 0.20 4.99 ± 0.22 5.57 ± 0.29 4.89 ± 0.26 4.80 ± 0.24B
Aa A Ca Aba Bca
ABTS 2018 7.14 ± 0.36 7.11 ± 0.60 5.34 ± 0.78 6.42 ± 0.27 5.49 ± 0.31 5.17 ± 0.46C
(mg TE/g DM) 2019 5.71 ± 0.14 Abb
6.38 ± 0.32 A
4.25 ± 0.37 Cb
5.12 ± 0.27BCb
4.24 ± 0.32 Cb
4.76 ± 0.19BC
Aab A Bcab Aa Cab
2020 6.64 ± 0.75 6.42 ± 0.77 4.94 ± 0.32 6.39 ± 0.70 4.70 ± 0.40 5.74 ± 0.11AB
DM: dry matter; SDG: secoisolariciresinol diglucoside; MATA: matairesinol; TPC: total polyphenol content; GAE: gallic acid equivalent; TE:
Trolox equivalent; DPPH: 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl; ABTS: [2,2-azinobis-(3-ethylbenzothiazoline − 6-sulfonic acid)]; A−Cvalues with
different superscripts (cultivars) within a row differ significantly (p < 0.05); a−bvalues with different superscripts (years) within a column differ
significantly (p < 0.05); n = 5

because the reports regarding its concentration in linseed Besides that, the SDG level was also related to MATA.
are scarce. As far as the authors of this paper are aware, The content of lignans was positively correlated with total
only two papers are comparing the content of MATA in phenolic content (TPC), DPPH, and ABTS radical scaveng-
different cultivars. Zimmerman et al. [17] reported a stron- ing activities. Correspondingly, all the antioxidant-related
ger effect of the cultivar (six cultivars) compared to envi- assays were related to each other (Table S3). These relations
ronmental factors (combination of two growing sites and are coherent with results reported by Garros et al. [16]. They
three nitrogen fertilizer doses), which influenced the SECO observed in five cultivars the significant positive correlation
(2.4–5.7 mg/g DM) and MATA (1.6–7.7 µg/g DM) content, of SDG, caffeic acid glucoside and p-coumaric acid gluco-
indicating the strong dependency on genetic predisposition. side contents with ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP)
However, the year significantly affected SECO content only in the range 217.4-355.8 µM of Trolox equivalent antioxi-
in one cultivar. Krajčová et al. [29] compared nine cultivars dant capacity (TEAC), oxygen radical absorbance capacity
within one year, and the content of MATA ranged between (ORAC, 270.0-375.8 µM TEAC), and iron chelating anti-
3 and 9 µg/g FW in linseed cultivars. There are also other oxidants assays (7.2–14.7 µM of fixed iron). The positive
slightly outdated reports on the content of MATA in linseed. relation between SDG (15.9–21.3 mg/g) and SECO (1.9–
For instance, Mazur et al. [30] reported 10.87 µg/g FW, 3.2 mg/g) with ABTS antioxidant assay (14.2–36.1 mmol
Thompson et al. [31] 1.53 µg/g FW, Milder et al. [32] found TE/g), as well as TPC (109.9-246.9 mg GAE/100 g) with
5.53 µg/g FW, whereas Kraushofer & Sontag [33] mea- ABTS, DPPH (32.6–46.2 mg TE/100 g) and FRAP (0.6 to
sured seven samples where MATA content ranged from 7 1.1 mg TE/g), observed within defatted linseed meal (DFM)
to 28.5 µg/g FW. However, none of these authors specified of 32 cultivars grown within three years and six different
the attributes of linseed samples (cultivar, year of harvest, growing sites, was also reported by Deng et al. [35]. Based
location of growing). Since the SDG, MATA and SECO on our results and the findings stated in the two previously
(when performing acidic hydrolysis) were expected to be mentioned research studies, the high content of lignans is
quantified according to the scientific literature, the poten- probably one of the major factors positively contributing to
tial detectability of LARI and PINO was rather hypothetical the antioxidant potential of linseed.
since they don’t represent the final products of lignans bio-
synthesis in linseed [34].
SDG content was positively correlated with seed yield.
However, this relation may be quite variable and should
be verified by further studies dealing with more linseed
cultivars grown under various environmental conditions.

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164 Plant Foods for Human Nutrition (2024) 79:159–165

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compounds content in linseed. Therefore, it is expected that 8. Yuan J-P, Li X, Xu S-P et al (2008) Hydrolysis kinetics of
new findings about linseed composition and its response to secoisolariciresinol diglucoside oligomers from flaxseed. J Agric
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seed (Linum usitatissimum L.) and its allied species: retrospect,
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supplementary material available at https://doi.org/10.1007/s11130- tion and characterization of the lignans, isolariciresinol and pin-
023-01136-9. oresinol, in flaxseed meal. J Agric Food Chem 47:3173–3180.
https://doi.org/10.1021/jf981359y
Author Contributions MJ and FL contributed to investigation, manu- 11. Herchi W, Sakouhi F, Arráez-Román D et al (2011) Changes
script conceptualization and design, writing – review and editing, writ- in the content of phenolic compounds in flaxseed oil during
ing – original draft; MJ contributed further to methodology, growing, development. J Am Oil Chem Soc 88:1135–1142. https://doi.
field trials, investigation, sample preparation; JB (Jan Bedrníček), EP, org/10.1007/s11746-011-1783-2
MB, EJ, VB, ZZ, JK, PS, JK, AS, JB (Jan Bárta) contributed to sample 12. Sangiorgio P, Errico S, Verardi A et al (2023) Bioactive lig-
preparation, analysis and interpretation of data, writing – original draft, nans from flaxseed: biological properties and patented recovery
JB (Jan Bárta) contributed to supervising, project administration, fund- technologies. Nutraceuticals 3:58–74. https://doi.org/10.3390/
ing acquisition. All authors read and approved the final manuscript. nutraceuticals3010005
13. Senizza A, Rocchetti G, Mosele JI et al (2020) Lignans and gut
Funding This research was funded by (1) Ministry of Agriculture of microbiota: an interplay revealing potential health implications.
the Czech Republic, grant number QK1910302 and (2) University of Molecules 25:5709. https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules25235709
South Bohemia in České Budějovice, grant number GAJU033/2018/Z. 14. De Silva SF, Alcorn J (2019) Flaxseed lignans as important
dietary polyphenols for cancer prevention and treatment: chem-
istry, pharmacokinetics, and molecular targets. Pharmaceuticals
Data Availability No datasets were generated or analysed during the
12:68. https://doi.org/10.3390/ph12020068
current study.
15. Zhang J, Xie Y, Miao C et al (2022) Secoisolariciresinol diglyco-
side (SDG) lignan content of oil flax: genotypic and environmen-
Declarations tal variations and association with other traits. Oil crop sci 7:1–8.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ocsci.2022.02.004
Ethical Approval Not applicable. 16. Garros L, Drouet S, Corbin C et al (2018) Insight into the influ-
ence of cultivar type, cultivation year, and site on the lignans
Competing Interests The authors declare no competing interests. and related phenolic profiles, and the health-promoting antioxi-
dant potential of flax (Linum usitatissimum L.) seeds. Molecules
23:2636. https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules23102636
17. Zimmermann R, Bauermann U, Morales F (2006) Effects of
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