Enterolignan

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A type of compound formed in the intestine when gut bacteria metabolize plant lignans from foods such as seeds and whole grains
2. A substance produced in the gut by microbial action on dietary plant lignans, studied for its possible hormone-like effects
3. A metabolite created by intestinal bacteria breaking down the plant lignans found in certain foods, such as flaxseed

Etymology: Enterolignans are compounds formed in the gut from plant lignans, which are a class of substances found in foods such as flaxseed, whole grains and vegetables. The name is a straightforward modern coinage: it joins "entero-", from Greek "enteron" meaning "intestine", with "lignan", a term for the plant compounds themselves. The word therefore describes what these substances are, lignans that have been transformed inside the intestines, rather than something found in food.