| Many cancer patients take vitamins and supplements as potential treatments and therefore many researchers have begun to systematically evaluate the potential of these "functional foods". Flax, in the form of seeds or seed-derived oil, is recognized for its exceptional nutritional value due to its high concentration of fiber-based lignans and large amounts of omega fatty acids. We have initiated a series of in vitro studies to determine the effect of flaxseed oil on the growth of several cultured cells. We have shown that flaxseed oil treatment of the aggressive murine melanoma cell line, B16-BL6, caused a rapid slowing of cell growth in a dose-dependent manner. Interestingly, non-malignant cell lines, such as HSG, were affected by the flaxseed treatment in an opposite mariner, with cell growth being increased. This pattern appears to be similar across all tested malignant and non-malignant cell lines, including human and mouse cells. Treatment of cells with flaxseed oil promoted cellular apoptosis as determined by DNA laddering. Although the specific components of the flaxseed oil that are responsible for these physiological effects are being unravelled, the combined and/or synergistic effects of interactions between the components have yet to be explained. |
