Triacylglycerols of the seed oil of Linum grandiflorum Desf.: Their composition, cytotoxicity, and hepatoprotective activity

The seed oil of Linum grandiflorum was used for centuries as food additive and medicine due to its high content of omega‐3. The presented study aimed to characterize the triacylglycerols (TAGs) composition of the seed oil and to study its cytotoxicity and hepatoprotective activity. Based on extensive analysis of the seed oil using ESI‐TOF/MS along with 1H‐ and 13C‐NMR, the TAGs composed mainly of TAGs 54:9 (LnLnLn), 54:8 (LnLLn), and 54:7 (LnOLn), with α‐linolenic acid (Ln18:3) as a major constituent, along with trace amounts of linoleic acid (L18:2) and oleic acid (O18:1). A standard high‐flux anticancer‐drug screening method was employed, and recorded IC50 values of 30 ± 2.4, 30 ± 2.5, >100, and >100 µg/mL against EL4, MCF7, PC3, and McCoy, respectively. In addition, the antihepatotoxic activity supplemented by a histopathological examination was done, and proved that, the oil enhanced all parameters to its normal conditions after CCl4 toxicity. Practical applications The seed oil of Linum grandiflorum used by Egyptians as food additives and as medicine for the treatment of various aliments, that is, inflammation and ulceration, etc., based on its content of omega‐3. Hence, our study “for the first time” focused on the investigation of the TAGs composition of the seed oil of L. grandiflorum, and also the evaluation of its activity as cytotoxic and hepatoprotective.