The Promising Future of Chia, Salvia hispanica L.

Table 1

Active compounds identified in Salvia hispanica L. and their chemical structure.

Active compounds in Salvia hispanica L.	Chemical structure	Activities
Omega 3 alpha-linolenic acid; ω-3 ALA (18 : 3) (PUFA fatty acids)		Essential fatty acid; Benefits: (1) lowering TG and cholesterol levels, which in turn results in low blood pressure and heart-related diseases [11]; (2) anti-inflammatory activity [12, 13]; (3) cardioprotective and hepatoprotective activities by redistributing lipid away from visceral fat and liver [14, 15]; (4) antidiabetic action; (5) protection against arthritis, autoimmune disease, and cancer [13].
Omega 6 linoleic acid; ω-6 LA (18 : 2) (PUFA fatty acids)		Essential fatty acid; This FA has inflammatory, hypertensive, and thrombotic activities. Eicosanoid produced from LA has been associated with CVD and cancer [16]. It works inversely with ALA; thus a balanced ratio of ALA to LA is important in maintaining good health [15, 17].
Myricetin (flavonols and phenolic acids)
Quercetin (flavonols and phenolic acids)		Antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anticancer, and antithrombotic activities [12].
Kaempferol (flavonols and phenolic acids)
Caffeic acid (flavonols and phenolic acids)