Open Access

REVIEW

Lignan Enhancement: An Updated Review on the Significance of Lignan and Its Improved Production in Crop Plants

by Ragini Singh¹, Noushina Iqbal^1,*, Shahid Umar^1,*, Sayeed Ahmad²

1 Department of Botany, School of Chemical and Life Sciences, Jamia Hamdard University, New Delhi, 11062, India
2 Centre of Excellence in Unani Medicine (Pharmacognosy & Pharmacology), Bioactive Natural Product Laboratory (BNPL), Department of Pharmacognosy & Phytochemistry, School of Pharmaceutical Education & Research, Jamia Hamdard University, New Delhi, 110062, India

* Corresponding Authors: Noushina Iqbal. Email: ; Shahid Umar. Email:

(This article belongs to the Special Issue: Influence of Biotic and Abiotic Stresses Signals on Plants and their Performance at Different Environments)

Phyton-International Journal of Experimental Botany 2024, 93(12), 3237-3271. https://doi.org/10.32604/phyton.2024.057189

Received 10 August 2024; Accepted 25 November 2024; Issue published 31 December 2024

Abstract

Lignans are a prominent group of phenolic compounds ubiquitously present in the plant kingdom, playing a critical role in both plant physiology and human health. Structurally they are characterized by the dimerization of two phenylpropane units to attain diverse chemical configurations that contribute to their wide range of biological activities. In plants, lignans function primarily as defense molecules, protecting against pathogens, herbivores, and environmental stressors. These compounds also participate in plant growth regulation and lignification processes. From a nutritional and medicinal perspective, lignans are valued for their significant health benefits. They act as phytoestrogens, which can modulate estrogen receptors in humans, thereby offering protective effects against hormone-related diseases such as breast cancer and menopausal symptoms. Additionally, lignans possess potent antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, contributing to cardiovascular health and cancer prevention. This review aims to provide a comprehensive overview of the importance of lignans in plants, highlighting their chemical diversity, health-promoting properties and stress adaptation. By synthesizing recent research findings, this review underscores the significance of lignans in enhancing plant resilience under stress and human health. It explores their potential applications in the food and pharmaceutical industries. Besides, it will also focus on the widely used method for enhancing the production of these high-value secondary metabolites in plant cell cultures to meet their requirement in pharmaceutical industries.

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Keywords

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