CYANOGENIC COMPOUNDS IN FLAXSEED

The seeds of 10 flax cultivars (Andro, Flanders, AC Linora, Linott, McGregor, Noralta, NorLin, NorMan, Somme, and Vimy) grown at Portage la Prairie, MB, in 1987, 1988, and 1989 and at Beaverlodge, AB, and Indian Head, SK, in 1989 were analyzed for content of cyanogenic glucosides by HPLC. The main cyanogenic compound was the diglucoside linustatin at 213-352 mg/100 g of seed, accounting for 54-76% of the total content of cyanogenic glucosides. The content of neolinustatin ranged from 91 to 203 mg/100 g of seed. Linamarin was present at low levels (<32 mg/100 g) in 8 of the 10 cultivars analyzed. The content of all three cyanogenic glucosides was dependent on cultivar, location, and year of production, with cultivar being the most important factor.