An update on bioactive plant lignans.
Lignans are a class of secondary plant metabolites produced by oxidative dimerization of two phenylpropanoid units. Although their molecular backbone consists only of two phenylpropane (C6-C3) units, lignans show an enormous structural diversity. There is a growing interest in lignans and their synthetic derivatives due to applications in cancer chemotherapy and various other pharmacological effects. This review deals with lignans possessing anticancer, antioxidant, antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory and immunosuppressive activities, and comprises the data reported in more than 100 peer-reviewed articles, so as to highlight the recently reported bioactive lignans that could be a first step towards the development of potential new therapeutic agents.
Saleem
Muhammad
M
Medicinal Chemistry Research Center, Division of Life Sciences, Korea Institute of Science and Technology, P.O. Box 131, Cheongryang, Seoul 130-650, Korea.
Kim
Hyoung Ja
HJ
Ali
Muhammad Shaiq
MS
Lee
Yong Sup
YS
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000494:pharmacology; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D017705:Lignans / Q000494:pharmacology; D010944:Plants / Q000737:chemistry*
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D000975:Antioxidants; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D017705:Lignans