lignan; enterodiol; enterolactone

Epidemiology

• lignans are found in rye, linseed, carrots, tea, spinach, lettuce, broccoli, onions, flaxseed, tea & coffee

Pathology

• higher serum enterolactone associated with lower mortality in patients with estrogen receptor negative breast cancer

Biochemistry

• a low-molecular weight compound of plant origin (phytoestrogen) formed by coupling of monomeric precursors, including cinnamic acid, cinnamyl alcohol, propenylbenzene & allyl benzene
• they represent the dimer units from which lignins are made
• trimers & tetramers are not found naturally
• the lignans enterodiol & enterolactone are formed from enzymatic metabolism of secoisolariciresinol & matairesionol in the gastrointesional tract.

More general terms

• phenol

Additional terms

• lignin
• phytoestrogen

Database

• PubChem: http://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/summary/summary.cgi?cid=261166
• PubChem: http://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/summary/summary.cgi?cid=242025
• PubChem: http://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/summary/summary.cgi?cid=242024
• PubChem: http://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/summary/summary.cgi?cid=159949