Lignans are important biologically active dietary polyphenolic compounds. Consumption of foods that are rich in lignans is associated with positive health effects. Using modeling tools to probe the ligand-binding pockets of molecular receptors, we found that lignans have high docking affinity for the human thyroid hormone receptor β. Follow-up experimental results show that lignans (-) arctigen...

The impact of sesamin, episesamin and sesamolin (sesame lignans) on hepatic gene expression profiles was compared with a DNA microarray. Male Sprague-Dawley rats were fed experimental diets containing 0.2% sesamin, episesamin or sesamolin, and a control diet free of lignans for 15 d. Compared to a lignan-free diet, a diet containing sesamin, episesamin and sesamolin caused 1.5- and 2-fold chang...

We recently reported that Wuzhi tablet (WZ; Schisandra sphenanthera extract) can inhibit P-glycoprotein (P-gp)–mediated efflux and CYP3Amediated metabolism of tacrolimus (FK506) and thus increase the blood concentrations of FK506. Major active lignans of WZ include schisandrin A, schisandrin B, schisandrin C, schisandrol A, schisandrol B, and schisantherin A. Whether and how these six lignans a...

BACKGROUND In this study, the authors cultivated ECV-304 in vitro and incubated cells with H2O2, established injury models, and induced oxidized endothelial cell apoptosis. This model makes it possible to choose suitable concentrations of North Schisandra Lignans. OBJECTIVE To study the protective effects of North Schisandra Lignans on human umbilical vein endothelial cell injuries. METHODS...

with estrogen-like activities. Isoflavones and lignans have been categorized as phytoestrogens, based on their chemical structures and activities. Phytoestrogens have been explored in the field of metabolic degradation by intestinal bacteria. In particular, the biotransformation of plant lignans, such as secoisolariciresinol diglucoside (SDG), pinoresinol diglucoside (PDG), arctiin, and mataire...

BACKGROUND Tree bark of Eucommia ulmoides Oliv., (commonly well-known as "Du-zhong" in China), has been used to treat hypertension, hypercholesterolemia, hyperglycemia, hepatic fibrosis and renal injury. This study aims to investigate the effects of lignans extracted from the bark of Eucommia ulmoides Oliv. on Ang II-induced proliferation and extracellular matrix biosynthesis in rat mesangial c...

The objective of present study is to evaluate the effect of anti-allergic activity of dichloromethanolic extract and related lignans from Magnolia biondii Pamp. Dried flower buds of Magnolia biondii were collected in China, three lignans were isolated from dichloromethane extract of Magnolia biondii and identified as: Magnolin, Pinoresinol dimethyl ether, Lirioresinol-B dimethyl ether. Anti-all...

It is highly valuable to study the pharmacokinetics of herbal components under the pathological condition of liver dysfunction for safe and rational use of herbal medicines. In this study, the pharmacokinetic profiles of four effective lignans from Schisandra chinensis (SC), schisandrin, schisantherin A, deoxyshisandrin and γ-schisandrin, were investigated in carbon tetrachloride (CCl4)-intoxic...

which results in increased bone fragility and fracture risk. Estrogen deficiency which occurs at menopause plays a major role in the development of osteoporosis in elderly women. Therefore, estrogen replacement therapy (ERT) has been widely used for prevention of postmenopausal osteoporosis. However, ERT also shows other undesirable side effects including increased incidence of breast cancer an...

Lignans and their in vivo metabolites, especially enterolactone (ENL), have attracted substantial interest as potential chemopreventive agents for prostate cancer. Preclinical and clinical interventions performed with lignan-rich flaxseed that use surrogate biomarkers as endpoints suggest that lignans may attenuate prostate carcinogenesis in individuals with increased risk or with diagnosed can...