Function, lignans

Tsuruoka, N., Kidokoro, A., Matsumoto, I., and Abe, K. 2005. Modulating effect of sesame, a functional lignan in sesame seeds, on the transcriptions levels of lipid-and alcohol-metabolizing enzymes in rat liver a DNA microarray study. Biosci BiotechnolBiochem 69 179-188. 

Examples of inhibitors of chromatin function derived from flowering plants (Fig. 80) are etoposide (lignan) and alkaloids camptothecin, Vinca alkaloids, and 7 epitaxol. The rhizome of Podophyllum peltatum L. (May apple, Berberidaceae) has been used to remove warts and to relieve the bowels from costiveness since very early times. It contains podophyllo-toxin, a cytotoxic lignan from which etoposide (Vepesid ), which is used to treat lung cancer, lymphomas, and leukemias on account of its ability to inhibit the activity of... 

Umezawa T, Davin LB, Lewis NG (1991) Formation of lignans (-)-secoisolariciresinol and (-)-matairesinol with Forsythia intermedia ceU-free extracts. J Biol Chem 266 10210-10217 Okunishi T, Sakakibara N, Suzuki S et al (2004) Stereochemistry of matairesinol formation by Daphne secoisolariciresinol dehydrogenase. J Wood Sci 50 77-81 XiaZ-Q, Costa MA, Pelissier HC et al (2001) Secoisolariciresinol dehydrogenase purification, cloning, and functional expression. J Biol Chem 276 12614-12623... 

It is noteworthy that a cross-sectional study in 301 postmenopausal women (60 to 75 years of age) in the Netherlands, where isoflavone and lignan intakes were assessed with a food frequency questionnaire covering habitual diet during the year prior to the study, reported no associations between isoflavone intake and vascular function, including endothelial function, blood pressure, and hypertension, and this is in contrast to the observed protective effect of dietary lignan intake on blood pressure and hypertension. 

Lewis NG and Davin LB (1999) Lignans biosynthesis and function. Comprehensive Natural Products Chemistry, Vol 1. Elsevier, Amsterdam, pp 639-712. 

Flaxseed was among the best food sources in the prevention of in vivo spontaneous chromosomal damage in mice (Trentin et al., 2004). The exact reason for the chromosomal damage prevention was not identified however, the mechanism may be related to the antioxidant function of flaxseed components. Lignans have antioxidant activity and thus may contribute to the anticancer activity of flaxseed (Kangas et al., 2002 Kitts et al., 1999 Prasad 1997a, Yuan et al., 1999). 

There are abundant and diverse flavonoids with carbohydrates and lipids, alkaloids (betalain alkaloids and other alkaloids), phenols (chromones, cou-marins, lignans, quinines, and other phenolics), terpenoids (monoterpenoids, sesquiterpene lactones, triperpenoid saponins, carotenoids, and other terpenoids), and minerals as micronutritional phytochemicals in fruits and vegetables of our daily diets. Among these phytochemicals, the flavonoids have specific functionality in relation to age-related diseases such as hypertension, diabetes, cardiac infarction, cataracts, and cancer. The authors of each chapter in the first section have presented their evidence in relation to the mechanism of the preventative and therapeutic ability of the compounds. 

From Taxus baccata (Taxaceae) the alkaloid taxol has been isolated. Taxol also affects the architecture of microtubules in inhibiting their disassembly (312). Nonalkaloidal compounds to be mentioned in this context include the lignan podophyllotoxin (312). In conclusion, any alkaloid which impairs the function of microtubules is likely to be toxic, because of their importance for a cell, and, from the point of view of defense, a well-working and well-shaped molecule. 

Jiao, Y., Davin, L.B. and Lewis, N.G. (1998) Furanofuran lignan metabolism as a function of seed maturation in Sesamum indicum methylenedioxy bridge formation. Phytochemistry, 49, 387-94. 

Lewis NG, Davin LB. Evolution of lignan and neolignan biochemical pathways. In Isoprenoids and other natural products Evolution and function. Nes WD, ed. 1994. ACS Symposium Series, Washington, D.C. 

Many species in the Europhorbiaceae and Labiatae families produce seeds with a high content of oil and contribution of hnolenic acid of up to 76% (1). Flaxseed has been used for years in the production of paints, varnishes, inks, and linoleum. In food applications, flaxseed is more often used than oil because of its better stability and because of the presence of fiber, lignans, and a-linolenic acid (ALA), which have health benefits. Cold pressed flaxseed oil is not considered suitable for deep-frying, although Chinese use it in stir-frying (2). In this chapter, oilseeds of flax, perilla, camelina, and chia are discussed as sources of oils with elevated content of ALA. These oilseeds are produced in industrial quantities and can be considered as potential sources of new oils with specific nutritional and functional properties. 

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