Abstract:

This paper describes the examination of raw flax fibres in terms of their antioxidant activity. Fibres originating from five varieties of flax plants cultivated in Poland: Artemida, Modran, Sara, Nike and Luna were extracted with the application of different methods: dew retting and water retting. The extraction method has an influence on the fibre chemical composition, resulting in different levels of fibre antioxidant properties. The antioxidant activity of flax fibres was evaluated with the application of ferric ion reducing antioxidant power (FRAP). The results of the study indicated differences in the bioactivity of flax fibres linked with the method of their extraction applied as well as the lignin and phenolic acid content in the fibre chemical composition.