Lignan

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A group of naturally occurring organic compounds found in plants that function as antioxidants and have potential health benefits such as hormone regulation and disease prevention
2. Plant-derived chemical substances classified as phenolic compounds known for their antioxidant properties and their role in supporting human health by influencing hormonal activity
3. Bioactive molecules present in various plant seeds and tissues that exhibit antioxidant effects and may contribute to reducing the risk of certain diseases through their interaction with biological systems

Etymology: The name points to wood, though lignans are best known from seeds. It comes from "lignin," the tough polymer that gives plant cell walls their rigidity. The two compounds are built from the same basic chemical units, phenylpropanoids, so chemists who named them linked them to the woody material. Lignin itself takes its name from the Latin "lignum," meaning wood. The "-an" ending is a standard chemical convention, not a sign of separate origin. Lignans are most abundant in the outer layers of seeds and in whole grains, with flaxseed among the richest sources. In the plant they are thought to serve as defensive compounds, and the bodies of animals that eat them process them into related molecules.

Synonyms: phytoestrogen