Effect of Linum usitatissimum (linseed/flaxseed) fixed oil on experimental esophagitis in albino rats.

The present study was undertaken to elucidate the effect of Linum usitatissimum fixed oil on experimental esophagitis in albino rats. Group of rats (n = 6), treated with vehicle control (0.9% NaCl, 3 mL/kg, i.p.) or L. usitatissimum fixed oil (1, 2, 3 mL/kg, i.p.) or omeprazole (30 mg/kg, i.p.). Rats were subjected to pylorus and forestomach ligation to induce esophagitis and were compared to a control sham group. Animals were sacrificed after 6 h and evaluated for the gastric pH, gastric volume, total acidity and esophagitis index. Esophageal tissues were further subjected to estimations of sialic acid, collagen, thiobarbituric acid reactive substances, tissue glutathione, catalase and superoxide dismutase. Treatment with fixed oil significantly inhibited the gastric secretion, total acidity and esophagitis index. The oil also altered the levels of sialic acid and collagen towards normal with significant antioxidant activity in esophageal tissues. The lipoxygenase inhibitory, histamine antagonistic, antisecretory (anticholinergic) and antioxidant activity of the oil was attributed for its effect in reflux esophagitis.