Buglossoides arvensis

Other Names

abremanosAcker-RindszungeAcker-SteinsameAckersteinsameAegonychon arvenseAegonychon arvense (L.) Graybastard alkanetBauernschminkeBuglosse des champsBuglossoides arvenseBuglossoides arvensis f. cyaneaBuglossoides arvensis subsp. arvensisBuglossoides arvensis subsp. occidentalisBuglossoides arvensis subsp. permixtaBuglossoides arvensis subsp. sibthorpianacorn gromwellErba perla minoreFausse buglosse des champsfield gromwellgrémil des champskamejka rolníkamienkovec roľnýLithospermum arvenseLithospermum arvense f. coeruleumLithospermum arvense f. subcoerulescensLithospermum arvense L.Lithospermum arvense var. caeruleumLithospermum arvense var. multicauleLithospermum arvense var. punctatumLithospermum arvense var. ramosumLithospermum bicolorLithospermum calycinumLivadno vrapčje sjemeMaenhad y tir ârMargarospermum arvenseMezei gyöngykölesMijo de solNawrot polnynjivsko ptičje semePeltorusojuuripuccoonruw parelzaadRynket StenfrøsheepweedSminkrotstone seedstoneseedstrigolo selvaticoΒουγλωσσοειδές το αρουραίοВоробейничек полевойГоробине насіння польовеגלעינית השדהسنگدانه خودروქვათესლა田紫草개지치

Synopsis

Buglossoides arvensis (Field Gromwell / Corn Gromwell): A Comprehensive Reference

1. Identity and Botanical Classification

Taxonomy and Nomenclature

Buglossoides arvensis (synonym: Lithospermum arvense), known as field gromwell, corn gromwell, bastard alkanet, and stone seed, is a flowering plant of the family Boraginaceae. The current accepted scientific name is Buglossoides arvensis (L.) I.M.Johnst., reflecting a reclassification from the older genus Lithospermum. Additional synonyms include Aegonychon arvense (L.) Gray, reflecting historical classifications in the borage family.

Three subspecies are accepted: Buglossoides arvensis subsp. arvensis, Buglossoides arvensis subsp. occidentalis Franco, and Buglossoides arvensis subsp. sibthorpiana (Griseb.) R.Fern.

Morphology

Buglossoides arvensis is an annual herbaceous plant characterized by its erect or decumbent stems reaching up to 60 cm in height, densely covered in appressed hairs, and producing small white or pale blue tubular flowers in scorpioid cymes, followed by hard, tuberculate nutlets. The plant features sessile, linear to narrowly ovate leaves that are 10–45 mm long and densely setulose.

Geographic Distribution

B. arvensis is native to Europe and Asia, as far north as Korea, Japan, and Russia, and as far south as Afghanistan and northern Pakistan. It is known in other places as an introduced species, including much of North America and Australia. It has become widely naturalized and often invasive in disturbed habitats, thriving in dry, calcareous soils of fields, waste grounds, and roadsides.

Common Forms and Preparations

The principal dietary supplement form is a refined seed oil, commercially developed under the trademarked cultivar name Ahiflower®. The European Union has granted the refined oil of the seed of Buglossoides arvensis novel food status, and some farmers are growing it commercially in the United Kingdom as a plant-variety patented (PVP) and trademarked cultivar (Ahiflower®). The novel food ingredient is produced from the seeds of Buglossoides arvensis using processes conventionally used for edible oil production. Beyond the refined seed oil, defatted expeller press cake meal from the seed also holds GMP+ Feed Support Product status in the EU for livestock and companion animals. In traditional contexts, the above-ground parts of the plant—leaves and seeds—were prepared as infusions or as expressed material for topical application (see Section 2).

2. Traditional and Historical Use

Prehistoric and Archaeological Record

Seeds of Buglossoides have been reported in Ukrainian archaeological sites dating back as far as 4000 BC, where they were stored in clay pots; however, the purpose and usage of the seeds has not been determined. Archaeological evidence also suggests that B. arvensis has been an arable weed in Britain since at least the Bronze Age. Whether early presence reflects intentional cultivation or accidental co-occurrence with grain crops is not established by current evidence.

European Folk Medicine

Buglossoides arvensis has been employed in European folk medicine primarily for its diuretic properties and treatment of urinary tract issues. An infusion of the leaves is traditionally used as a diuretic to promote urine flow. In 16th-century herbals, such as John Gerard's The Herball or Generall Historie of Plantes, the seeds of gromwell (referring to species including those akin to B. arvensis) were pounded and consumed in white wine to break down and expel kidney stones, particularly those in the bladder, due to the plant's hard, stone-like nutlets.

Sandroni (2001), in a historical review of aphrodisiacs, found that the leaf and seeds of L. arvense had been reported to increase the libido through their androgenic, gonadotropic, and estrogenic properties, but that no toxicity was known. Contrastingly, Findley and Jacobs (1980) reported that certain Indian tribes in Nevada used a related species (L. ruderale) as a contraceptive, identifying antigonadotropic activity in aqueous extracts from the roots. These opposing traditional attributions reflect the heterogeneity of ethnobotanical reports within the genus and should not be generalized to B. arvensis specifically without further evidence.

Traditional Topical Use

The plant was also associated with external preparations. The broader Boraginaceae family has a history of wound-healing applications. The roots of the closely related species Lithospermum erythrorhizon Siebold & Zucc. have been commonly used in traditional Chinese medicine since at least the 16th century. The active component has been identified as shikonin, a naphthoquinone which has demonstrated wound-healing, antitumour, and antimicrobial effects in trials. However, shikonin has not been reported from Buglossoides arvensis itself, but has been found in Echium vulgare L.

Agronomic History and Decline

Corn gromwell has declined in Britain substantially since the 1950s due to agricultural intensification. Seeds are often transported with grain. Seed can be transported with grain, resulting in casual populations outside its core range. In recent years it has been used as a component of seed mixtures sown along arable headlands. The modern dietary supplement use arose not from this declining weed population but from a deliberate agricultural cultivation programme, with the 'Malin' and subsequently 'Ahiflower' proprietary varieties developed over approximately twelve years by Nature's Crops International in the United Kingdom.

3. Key Constituents and Active Compounds

Seed Oil Fatty Acid Profile

The commercial interest in B. arvensis is grounded almost entirely in the seed oil's unusual fatty acid composition. The seed oil contains high levels (63–72%) of omega-3 ALA (C18:3), omega-3 SDA (C18:4), and omega-6 GLA (C18:3) in combined form. More specifically, in addition to SDA, the seed oil contains approximately 42–48% ALA and 4.5–8% γ-linolenic acid (GLA), with approximately 80–90% total PUFA and an ω-6/ω-3 ratio of less than 1.

Ahiflower® oil extracted from Buglossoides arvensis seeds is the richest known non-genetically modified source of dietary SDA. B. arvensis has gained attention in ω-3 fatty acid research because of its natural ability to synthesize and accumulate SDA in its seed. SDA is an 18-carbon ω-3 PUFA with four cis double bonds in the acyl chain.

Beyond the primary fatty acids (ALA, SDA, GLA), the oil also contains smaller quantities of longer-chain metabolites. These include SDA, eicosatetraenoic acid (ETA; C20:4n-3), GLA, and DGLA (C20:3n-6). The main fatty acids contained in the novel food ingredient are alpha-linolenic acid (ALA), stearidonic acid (SDA), and linoleic acid, with smaller amounts of oleic acid, gamma-linolenic acid (GLA) and saturated fatty acids.

Secondary Metabolites: Pyrrolizidine Alkaloids and Naphthoquinones

Buglossoides arvensis synthesises pyrrolizidine alkaloids (PAs). A sample of unrefined Buglossoides oil was found to contain a total of 44 µg/kg PAs, but refining reduced this level to below 1 µg/kg. A maximum limit of 4 µg/kg is set in the commercial specification. The significance of this finding is addressed in Section 7.

Regarding naphthoquinones, shikonin has not been reported from Buglossoides arvensis but has been found in Echium vulgare L. Related compounds have been reported from the roots of Buglossoides arvensis and various Echium species.

Biosynthesis of SDA in the Seed

Buglossoides arvensis is an emerging oilseed crop that is rich in stearidonic acid (SDA) and has several potential applications in human health and nutrition. The molecular basis of SDA biosynthesis in this plant has required dedicated genomic research. Research using transcriptome sequencing has elucidated the key enzymatic pathway. Fatty acid supplementation studies in yeast expressing BaFAD3 and BaD6D-1 genes revealed that the encoded enzyme activities of BaFAD3 efficiently converted linoleic acid (LA) to ALA, and BaD6D-1 converted LA to γ-linolenic acid and ALA to SDA, but with an apparent preference for LA. BaD6D-2 did not show the encoded enzyme activity and is not a functional D6D. These results provide insight into SDA biosynthesis in B. arvensis and expand the repository of fatty acid desaturase targets available for biotechnological production of SDA.

Overall, coordinated expression of all desaturases diverts the flux of saturated fatty acid more towards PUFA biosynthesis, making B. arvensis seed oil PUFA (ALA and SDA)-rich.

4. Mechanisms of Action

SDA as a Metabolic Precursor to EPA: Bypassing the Rate-Limiting Step

The central pharmacological rationale for B. arvensis seed oil as a dietary supplement is the role of SDA as an unusually efficient precursor to the long-chain omega-3 fatty acid eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA; C20:5n-3). In the conventional omega-3 metabolic pathway, dietary ALA must first be converted to SDA by the enzyme Δ6-desaturase before it can be elongated and further desaturated to EPA. The SDA-rich Ahiflower oil (45% ALA, 20% SDA) extracted from the seed of Buglossoides arvensis was shown to be more efficient than ALA-rich flaxseed oil (60% ALA) at increasing serum, erythrocyte, mononuclear cell, and neutrophil EPA and docosapentaenoic acid (DPA, 22:5n-3) contents, consistent with the poor conversion of ALA to SDA owing to a rate-limiting Δ6-desaturase.

Because SDA is already the product of Δ6-desaturation, it bypasses this rate-limiting step and is more directly available for elongation to eicosatetraenoic acid (ETA; C20:4n-3) and subsequent Δ5-desaturation to EPA. Enrichment of tissues with ≥20-carbon n-3 PUFA like EPA is associated with positive cardiovascular outcomes.

Provision of Multiple Anti-Inflammatory Substrates

Based on its fatty acid composition, refined Buglossoides oil naturally provides the body a more diverse array of anti-inflammatory omega-3 and omega-6 (via GLA) substrates than derive from preformed EPA/DHA sources. These include SDA, ETA (C20:4n-3), GLA, and DGLA (C20:3n-6). GLA (gamma-linolenic acid), an omega-6 fatty acid, is the precursor to DGLA, which itself competes with arachidonic acid at the level of cyclooxygenase and lipoxygenase enzymes, generally favouring the production of less pro-inflammatory eicosanoids. This dual omega-3 and omega-6 metabolic provision is considered a distinguishing characteristic of B. arvensis seed oil relative to purely omega-3 plant oils such as flaxseed oil.

DHA Endogenous Synthesis

Refined Buglossoides oil has been shown to form omega-3 DHA (C22:6) endogenously with comparable efficiency as pure marine DHA in mammals and maintain DHA levels similarly in the brain and liver. This finding, from preclinical (animal) work, supports the hypothesis that the oil's SDA content ultimately supports tissue DHA status, though direct human clinical data specifically demonstrating DHA accretion from B. arvensis oil in humans requires further investigation.

Immunomodulation via IL-10

Production of interleukin-10 (IL-10) was increased in the 100% Ahiflower oil group compared to the 100% high oleic sunflower oil (HOSO) control group (p < 0.05). IL-10 production was also increased in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated M2-differentiated THP-1 macrophage-like cells in the presence of ETA (20:4n-3) or EPA (p < 0.05). Overall, this indicates that the consumption of Ahiflower oil is associated with an anti-inflammatory phenotype in healthy subjects.

Potential Neural and Gut-Related Mechanisms

Preliminary evidence, primarily from in vitro and preclinical studies, points to additional mechanisms relevant to neurology and the gut microbiome. Refined Buglossoides oil has been shown in recent peer-reviewed research to promote live probiotic survival into the small intestine in the TIMS-1 simulated gut and contribute beneficially to an anti-neuroinflammation response in vitro, and synergistically to improved executive function and cognitive flexibility in healthy adults. These latter findings were derived from a multi-ingredient supplement study and are discussed further in Section 5.

5. Scientific Evidence by Area of Application

5.1 Omega-3 PUFA Status and Tissue Enrichment

Evidence level: Moderate (two human RCTs, short-duration, healthy subjects only).

Phase I Trial (Lefort et al., 2016, Journal of Nutritional Science): Ahiflower® oil extracted from Buglossoides arvensis seeds is the richest known non-genetically modified source of dietary SDA. To investigate its safety and efficacy, a parallel-group, randomised, double-blind, comparator-controlled phase I clinical trial was performed. Diets of healthy subjects (n = 40) were supplemented for 28 days with 9.1 g/d of Ahiflower (46% ALA, 20% SDA) or flax seed oil (59% ALA). Blood and urine chemistries, blood lipid profiles, hepatic and renal function tests, and haematology were measured as safety parameters, and the fatty acid composition of fasting plasma, erythrocytes, polymorphonuclear cells, and mononuclear cells were measured at baseline and after 14 and 28 days of supplementation.

Results: No clinically significant changes in safety parameters were measured in either group. Tissue ALA and EPA content increased in both groups compared with baseline, but EPA accrual in plasma and in all cell types was greater in the Ahiflower group (time × treatment interactions, P ≤ 0.01). Plasma and mononuclear cell eicosatetraenoic acid (20:4n-3) and docosapentaenoic acid (22:5n-3) content also increased significantly in the Ahiflower group compared with the flax group.

This 28-day single-site, parallel-group, randomised, double-blind, comparator-controlled phase I clinical trial was the first to study the consumption of Buglossoides oil in humans. Limitations include the short 28-day duration, healthy-subject population, single-site design, and relatively small sample size (n = 40).

Dose-Response Trial (Lefort, LeBlanc, and Surette, 2017, Nutrients): A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial investigated the effects of three Ahiflower oil dosages on omega-3 PUFA content of plasma and mononuclear cells (MCs), and of the highest Ahiflower dosage on stimulated cytokine production in blood. Healthy subjects (n = 88) consumed 9.7 mL per day for 28 days of 100% high oleic sunflower oil (HOSO), 30% Ahiflower oil + 70% HOSO, 60% Ahiflower oil + 40% HOSO, and 100% Ahiflower oil.

Results: No clinically significant changes in blood and urine chemistries, blood lipid profiles, hepatic and renal function tests, nor hematology were measured. Plasma and mononuclear cell EPA (20:5n-3) levels increased from baseline at day 28 in all Ahiflower groups (p < 0.05), and the increase was greater in all Ahiflower groups compared to the HOSO control (time × treatment interactions; p < 0.05). This trial demonstrated a dose-dependent effect on tissue EPA enrichment. This was the first reported investigation of the impact of SDA-rich oil on stimulated whole blood cytokine and chemokine release in humans.

Limitations of both trials include their short duration (28 days), restriction to healthy adults, and lack of follow-up on clinical outcomes (e.g., cardiovascular events or inflammatory disease markers in at-risk populations).

5.2 Inflammation and Immune Modulation

Evidence level: Preliminary (two human RCTs, but relying on surrogate biomarkers only; supportive in vitro data).

In the 2017 Lefort et al. dose-response RCT (n = 88), cytokine modulation was assessed as a secondary endpoint using LPS-stimulated whole blood. Production of interleukin-10 (IL-10) was increased in the 100% Ahiflower oil group compared to the 100% HOSO group (p < 0.05). IL-10 is an anti-inflammatory cytokine associated with resolution of immune responses. IL-10 production was also increased in LPS-stimulated M2-differentiated THP-1 macrophage-like cells in the presence of ETA (20:4n-3) or EPA (p < 0.05), indicating that the consumption of Ahiflower oil is associated with an anti-inflammatory phenotype in healthy subjects.

These findings are promising but remain preliminary. Both human RCTs used healthy subjects, not individuals with inflammatory conditions. IL-10 in LPS-stimulated whole blood is a surrogate biomarker, not a direct clinical outcome measure. No RCTs in populations with established inflammatory conditions (e.g., rheumatoid arthritis, inflammatory bowel disease) have been published to date using B. arvensis seed oil as the primary intervention. Recent reviews highlight the efficient conversion of SDA to EPA, and suggest that SDA may offer similar health benefits to EPA, including immune, joint, cognitive, and gut microbiome modulation, with distinct SDA-derived metabolites; however, these are review-level inferences rather than definitive clinical trial results specific to B. arvensis oil.

5.3 Cardiovascular Health

Evidence level: Indirect and inferential (no dedicated cardiovascular endpoint RCTs with B. arvensis oil).

Enrichment of tissues with ≥20-carbon n-3 PUFA like EPA is associated with positive cardiovascular outcomes in the broader omega-3 literature. Because B. arvensis seed oil demonstrably increases circulating EPA (as established in the two human RCTs described above), it is proposed as a plant-based substitute or complement to marine-derived omega-3 supplementation. However, no long-term cardiovascular endpoint studies using B. arvensis oil have been published.

A number of clinical trials have investigated the impact of dietary SDA-ethyl ester, echium oil, or SDA soybean oil on tissue fatty acid composition and have shown that tissue EPA content, but not DHA, is significantly elevated following the consumption of dietary SDA. This broader body of SDA research provides an inferential basis for cardiovascular benefit, but direct RCTs with B. arvensis oil in cardiovascular populations are lacking.

5.4 Cognitive Function and Neurological Health

Evidence level: Preliminary, confounded by multi-ingredient formulation (one published RCT; in vitro and animal supportive data).

Braini is a proprietary nutraceutical formulation designed to support neural cell viability, signaling efficiency, and protection from pro-inflammatory and oxidative stressors. Braini contains refined Buglossoides arvensis seed oil. This dietary oil is unique among plant-based omega fatty acid-rich plant-derived oils for having the highest combined omega-3 ALA, SDA, and GLA content.

A double-blind, randomised, placebo-controlled trial (Lanou et al., 2023, Journal of Integrative and Complementary Medicine) tested this Braini formulation on standardized CNS Vital Signs cognitive performance parameters in healthy younger and older adults. Refined Buglossoides oil has been shown in this peer-reviewed research to contribute synergistically to improved executive function and cognitive flexibility in healthy adults. However, this trial used Braini—which also contained wild blueberry powder (Vaccinium corymbosum, minimum 12% anthocyanins)—making it impossible to attribute observed cognitive effects specifically to the B. arvensis seed oil component alone.

Preclinical data offers additional mechanistic support. Refined Buglossoides oil has been shown to form omega-3 DHA endogenously with comparable efficiency as pure marine DHA in mammals and maintain DHA levels similarly in the brain and liver. Further, refined Buglossoides oil has been shown to form omega-3 DHA (C22:6) endogenously with comparable efficiency as pure marine DHA in mammals and maintain DHA levels similarly in the brain and liver. Since DHA is the dominant structural omega-3 in brain cell membranes, this preclinical finding is physiologically relevant, but human brain-specific DHA accretion data remain limited.

5.5 Gut Microbiome Modulation and Probiotic Survival

Evidence level: Very preliminary (in vitro / simulated gut model only).

Refined Buglossoides oil has been shown in peer-reviewed research to promote live probiotic survival into the small intestine in the TIMS-1 simulated gut. The TIMS-1 model is a validated in vitro gut simulator, not a human clinical study. No published human clinical data directly examining effects on gut microbiome composition following B. arvensis oil consumption are available from the sources reviewed. This area represents a nascent and early-stage evidence stream.

5.6 Aquaculture and Animal Nutrition

While beyond the scope of direct human supplementation, several controlled animal and aquaculture studies have been published. Dietary Buglossoides arvensis oil has been investigated as a potential candidate to substitute fish oil in rainbow trout diets. These studies provide additional characterisation of the oil's metabolic behaviour and lipid-modifying properties across species, supporting (but not directly establishing) human health effects.

6. Dosage Forms and Dosages Reported in Studies

The following dosages are reported as used in the identified peer-reviewed studies; they are not recommendations.

Phase I RCT (Lefort et al., 2016): Healthy subjects (n = 40) were supplemented for 28 days with 9.1 g/d of Ahiflower oil (46% ALA, 20% SDA) or flax seed oil (59% ALA).
Dose-Response RCT (Lefort et al., 2017): Healthy subjects (n = 88) consumed 9.7 mL per day for 28 days of formulations containing 100% HOSO (placebo), 30% Ahiflower oil + 70% HOSO, 60% Ahiflower + 40% HOSO, and 100% Ahiflower oil.
GRAS/Novel Food Reference Amount: The consumption of 11–12 g/d of Ahiflower oil, containing 2.2 g of SDA, is considered GRAS by the American FDA and a Novel Food by EFSA.
EFSA Intended Daily SDA Provision: The novel food ingredient is intended to be used in a range of foods and food supplements to provide approximately 200 mg of SDA per day.

The oil is available commercially as a dietary supplement in liquid and soft-gel capsule form. All human clinical trials to date have been conducted using the refined seed oil.

7. Safety Considerations

Regulatory Status

The seed oil has GRAS (generally regarded as safe) review status from the US Food and Drug Administration, Canadian ingredient master file (IMF) registration and novel food status, and GMP+ Feed Support Product status in the EU for livestock and companion animals. The EFSA Panel on Dietetic Products, Nutrition and Allergies (NDA) was asked to deliver a scientific opinion on refined Buglossoides oil as a novel food ingredient in the context of Regulation (EC) No 258/97.

Clinical Safety from Human Trials

No safety concerns were revealed following the consumption of 10 mL per day of Ahiflower oil formulation for a period of 4 weeks, with no clinically relevant changes in blood chemistry or haematology values, and no adverse findings in urinalyses during the course of the study. The number of adverse events and adverse reactions was not different from that of subjects consuming flax seed oil and all were mild in nature.

The same profile was confirmed in the larger 2017 dose-response trial. No clinically significant changes in blood and urine chemistries, blood lipid profiles, hepatic and renal function tests, nor hematology were measured across all dosage levels tested. Caution must be applied in extrapolating these findings to durations beyond 28 days or to populations with compromised hepatic or renal function, as the trials enrolled only healthy adults aged 18–65.

Pyrrolizidine Alkaloids (PAs)

This is the most substantive safety consideration identified by regulatory review. Buglossoides arvensis synthesises pyrrolizidine alkaloids (PAs). A sample of unrefined Buglossoides oil was found to contain a total of 44 µg/kg PAs, but refining reduced this level to below 1 µg/kg. A maximum limit of 4 µg/kg is set in the commercial specification.

The EFSA Panel on Contaminants in the Food Chain has evaluated the risks to human health related to the presence of PAs in food and concluded that 1,2-unsaturated PAs may act as genotoxic carcinogens in humans. A benchmark dose lower confidence limit for a 10% excess cancer risk of 70 µg/kg body weight per day for the induction of liver haemangiosarcomas by lasiocarpine in male rats was calculated as the reference point for comparison with the estimated dietary exposure.

EFSA's conclusion, following its full safety assessment, was that the novel food ingredient, refined Buglossoides oil, is safe under the proposed uses and use levels. EFSA concluded: "The proposed specifications for pyrrolizidine alkaloids and erucic acid, which are undesirable substances, do not give rise to concern in view of the proposed conditions of use." This safety conclusion applies to the refined oil used at the proposed supplementation levels, not to unrefined preparations or whole-plant infusions.

EFSA Review Process and Questions Raised

Following initial UK FSA approval, the European Commission asked EFSA to carry out a further safety assessment to address concerns including the analysis of "undesirable substances," the strength and relevance of the animal and human data submitted, the lack of toxicological information, whether testing facilities were accredited, and whether storage and processing impacted safety and composition. Member states also questioned whether it had been appropriate to accept evidence of safety largely based on echium oil derived from the seeds of Echium plantagineum, a taxonomically related but nonetheless distinct species. EFSA resolved these concerns and issued its positive safety opinion.

Potential Interactions and Considerations

The oil's high PUFA content (80–90%) carries the general properties associated with omega-3/omega-6 fatty acid supplementation. Tissue EPA content, but not DHA, is significantly elevated following the consumption of dietary SDA. Individuals taking anticoagulant medications should be aware that high-dose omega-3 supplementation, through its effects on platelet aggregation, has been associated with altered bleeding parameters in some clinical contexts, though neither the 2016 nor 2017 B. arvensis oil trials reported changes in haematological parameters at the doses used.

The oil also contains GLA (gamma-linolenic acid), an omega-6 fatty acid. In persons with known sensitivity to gamma-linolenic acid-containing oils (e.g., evening primrose or borage seed oil), this may be relevant, though no specific allergenicity data for B. arvensis oil was identified beyond the EFSA compositional review.

8. Associated Body Systems and Health Areas

Cardiovascular system: Via EPA tissue enrichment; inferred association with cardiovascular outcomes per the broader omega-3 literature.
Immune system / Inflammation: Demonstrated increase in LPS-stimulated IL-10; anti-inflammatory PUFA enrichment of circulating immune cells in two human RCTs.
Nervous system / Cognitive function: Preclinical DHA maintenance in brain and liver; one multi-ingredient human trial with cognitive endpoints; in vitro anti-neuroinflammatory evidence.
Gastrointestinal system / Gut microbiome: In vitro simulated-gut evidence for probiotic survival enhancement; no human clinical gut microbiome data yet available.
Renal and urinary system: Historical/traditional use as diuretic and for urinary stone management; no clinical evidence supporting these traditional uses.
Hepatic system: Preclinical evidence for DHA maintenance in liver; repeated measurement of hepatic function parameters in both human RCTs with no adverse signal.

9. Regulatory Distinctions and Commercial Context

Nature's Crops International (NCI) has been given the go-ahead from the European Commission to market its Ahiflower Oil as a novel food ingredient. The oil is extracted from the seeds of the Buglossoides arvensis plant, a crop currently cultivated by independent farmers in the UK. Ahiflower started life as a weed, commonly known as wheat thief or gromwell, and is part of the borage family. Developed over 12 years by NCI—the exclusive grower and producer of Ahiflower oil—the crop is completely natural, sustainable, and fully traceable.

The novel food designation in the EU (granted 2015) means that the refined seed oil must meet defined compositional specifications, particularly regarding PA content (<4 µg/kg) and SDA/erucic acid levels. The specifications proposed by the applicant are the same as those set for "refined Echium oil," an oil extracted from Echium plantagineum and previously authorised in the EU as a novel food ingredient in 2008, with the exception of the content of stearidonic acid (SDA) and the protein content.

Summary of Evidence Strength

The dietary supplement use of Buglossoides arvensis seed oil is supported by a coherent and growing body of scientific evidence, strongest for its ability to enrich tissues with EPA and DPA in healthy adults. Two well-designed, published human RCTs (n = 40 and n = 88) consistently demonstrate safety across a range of standard clinical parameters over 28 days, and efficacy at increasing circulating omega-3 long-chain PUFA levels in a dose-dependent manner. The demonstration of elevated IL-10 production in LPS-stimulated whole blood provides preliminary human immunological evidence, though its clinical translation requires larger and longer trials in relevant patient populations. Evidence for effects on cognition, gut microbiome, and long-term cardiovascular outcomes remains preliminary, of short duration, or derived from surrogate biomarker and preclinical data. The traditional use claims (diuretic, kidney stone dissolution) have no established clinical corroboration.

References

Health Conditions

Health conditions that Buglossoides arvensis may help support.

No conditions available.

Body Systems

Body systems that Buglossoides arvensis may help support.

No body systems available.