Abstract – Flax (Linum usitatissimum L.)
is known to humans possibly for as long as 30
millennia and is used for at least 9 millennia.
The use of flax for the production of linen goes
back at least to ancient Egyptian times.It is a
good source of plant Omega-3 fatty acids, fiber
and other nutrients. Consumption of the oil
or seed has been reported to have beneficial
effects on cardiovascular health and in the
treatment of certain cancers and inflammatory
diseases. Flax seed is also used in animal feed
to increase levels of alpha-linolenic acid in
meat or eggs.
Keywords: Flax, Omega-3, Oil, Fibers, Linen.
Introduction – Flax fibers are amongst the
oldest fiber crops in the world. Dyed flax fibers
found in a cave in Dzudzuana (prehistoric
Georgia) have been dated to 30,000 years ago.
The use of flax fiber in the manufacturing of
cloth in northern Europe dates back to Neolithic
times. In North America, flax was introduced by
the Puritans3.
The flaxseeds are of medicinal and industrial
importance; its varieties are cultivated in over 20
countries. It is a good source of plant Omega-3
fat, fiber and other nutrients2.The bast fibers
obtained from the flax stem are made up of
remarkably long cells and are rich in crystalline
cellulose. They have a very high tensile strength
and are source of linen textiles, and their use in
composite materials is an area of active research.