ABSTRACT
The Unani drug Katan comprises of seeds of a plant Linum usitatissimum Linn. Which belong to linaceae family, It is one of the most ancient crops cultivated in Egypt. It is also cultivated in India as an oil seed plant. The plant has shown diverse biological and pharmacological activities. It has been used in Unani Medicine and Traditional Systems of Medicine from time immemorial. Its seed and oil are used in various diseases such as asthma, cough, bronchitis, pleurisy, pneumonia, joint pain, renal colic, renal calculi, rheumatic swelling, etc. Keeping in view of the high medicinal importance of the drug in Unani medicine, the present review provides available information on traditional uses, phytochemistry and pharmacological properties of the Unani drug Katan.
Keywords: Flax, Katan, Linum usitatissimum, Unani Medicine.