Neo-lignans

To confuse matters further, several dimeric phenylpropanoid (neo)lignans have been implicated in lignin synthesis (12) (see later). Others splay potent antiviral (/j), antifungal (74), bactericidal (15), insecticidal (16) and putative cytokinin (17, 18) properties. Therefore, it is difficult at first inspection to determine whether phenylpropanoid metabolism initially evolved for water/nutrient conduction, structural support or defense. (Figure 1 shows the overall biochemical pathway to the different metabolic products from Phe 1/Tyr 2). 

At this stage, the inclusion of the Cg - C3-dimers in their putative biogenetic class is much more important than a decision concerning the lignan/neolignan controversy. Indeed it has already been pointed out (54) that there is no need to add the prefix neo - in complete designations. Such designations are in themselves sufficient to discriminate between, for example, (8S,8 / )-4 -hydroxy-... 

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