**9. Anti-inflammatory action**

Inflammation is one of the main factors in the pathology of many chronic diseases. An increase in the level of inflammatory cytokines in the body provides the basis for damage to various tissues. In some studies, it has been shown that flaxseed has strong anti-inflammatory properties due to its many active compounds, especially because of its ALA contents [67]. The results of a meta-analysis study designed and implemented by our team in 2018 showed that supplementing with flaxseed had a significant effect on reducing the concentration of some inflammatory factors including tumor necrosis factor alpha and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) [68]. Positive results have also been reported from supplementing with flaxseed in inflammatory diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis [69] and inflammatory bowel diseases [70]. SDG and its metabolites (enterolactone and lignans enterodiol), which are flaxseed-related active chemicals, in particular, have demonstrated antiinflammatory and antioxidant potential, primarily by inhibiting lipid peroxidation. Additionally, some research has indicated that the flaxseed lignan portion may stimulate the nuclear element (erythroid-derived 2)-like 2, a transcription factor of the antioxidant and detoxifying genes, including NAD(P)H quinone dehydrogenase 1 and heme oxygenase-1 [71]. It's important to take into account the connections between the microbiome, inflammation, and diet. For instance, flaxseed is the greatest non-bioactive supply of lignan precursors and is transformed into its main metabolites, which have antioxidant activity, in the colon by gut microbiota, which may be altered by the microbial diversity [72]. On the other hand, flaxseed, as one of the richest plant sources of omega-3, can exert its anti-inflammatory effects through the conversion of alpha-linolenic acid into long-chain omega-3 fatty acids such as eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA). The production of pro-inflammatory eicosanoids from omega-6 fatty acids, such as prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) and leukotriene B4 (LTB4), suppressed by omega 3 fatty acids and can induce *Perspective Chapter: Flaxseed (*Linum usitatissimum *L) – Chemical Structure... DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.108259*

the production of some anti-inflammatory agents such as resolvins and protectins. Together these provide a mechanism to suppress the activity of nuclear transcription factors including nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) and thus decrease the production of pro-inflammatoryenzymes and cytokines, such as cyclooxygenase-2(COX-2), TNF-α, and interleukin (IL)-1 [71, 73].
