Lignans cardiovascular disease

The morama bean is an excellent source of lignans (Holse et al., 2010). The content of secoisolariciresinol in morama beans (305-406 gg/100 g) is higher than that of soybean (13-273 gg/100 g) and peanut (333 pg/100 g) (Mazur et al., 1998). Likewise, the level of lariciresinol in morama beans (614-825 [tg/100 g) is higher than that of soybeans (287 gg/lOO g), while the level of pinoresinol in morama beans (21-23 gg/lOO g) is lower than the level in soybeans (446 gg/lOO g) (Penalvo et ah, 2004). These lignans can be converted by intestinal bacteria into enterolignans, which possess biological activities such as (anti) estrogenic and antioxidant action. Therefore, they may reduce the risk of certain types of cancers as well as cardiovascular diseases (Adlercreutz, 2007). 

C21H24O5, Mr 356.42, cryst., mp. 62-65 °C, [a]p +3.2° a lignan from the Chinese pepper species Piper futokadsura, with activity as an antagonist of platelet activating factor, it is undergoing clinical testing as therapy for inflammatory, asthmatic, and cardiovascular diseases. 

Peterson J, Dwyer J, Adlercreutz H, Scalbert A, Jacques P, McCullough ML. Dietary lignans physiology and potential for cardiovascular disease risk reduction. Nutr Rev. 2010 68 571—603. 

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