Project Description
We have studied the antioxidant properties of flaxseed lignans in several oil-based model systems and have essentially met all of the goals we set out to accomplish. The results in the different systems are in agreement with each other. We can make several general conclusions.
i. Secoisolariciresinol is a better antioxidant than SDG
ii. SDG polymer is at least as good an antioxidant as SDG.
iii. These results suggest to us that flaxseed lignans are candidates for use as natural product food preservatives.
Further study will be required to determine the economic feasibility and the specific technology required to effectively incorporate flaxseed lignans into foods as a preservative, although our preliminary results are encouraging and may shed some light on the question of incorporation into foods (specifically oils).
The results we have obtained for our lignan antioxidant reactions will be of great help in the future for studying the antioxidant reactions of the lignans enterodiol and enterolactone. Enterodiol and enterolactone are also lignans that are the human metabolites of SECO and SDG and have been observed in human blood and urine. Flaxseed lignans appear to provide antioxidant protection when consumed hy humans. Since the lignans enterodiol and enterolactone, which are derived from SECO, are present in the body it may be that these lignans may also provide antioxidant protection. rt will be important to thoroughly study the antioxidant reactions of enterodiol and enterolactone in humans to determine their contributions. The results from this project will be of great help in providing direction for a study of the antioxidant reactions of enterodiol and enterolactone.
