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Toward Engineering the Metabolic Pathways of Cancer-Preventing Lignans in Cereal Grains and Other Crops

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Phytochemicals in Human Health Protection, Nutrition, and Plant Defense

Part of the book series: Recent Advances in Phytochemistry ((RAPT,volume 33))

Abstract

Lignans, ubiquitous constituents of vascular plants, have a number of properties that are of use to humans: some can protect against the onset of various cancers,1 whereas others have antimitotic, antiviral, antibacterial, and antifungal properties.2 Certain lignans can also function, for example, as antioxidants, platelet activating factor receptor antagonists, and anti-tubercular agents, and others are disinfectants, moth repellants, and insecticides.3–5 Because of their important applications from a health and economic perspective, intensified efforts are being expended to both understand and manipulate their biosynthetic pathways. Accordingly, this chapter highlights progress being made towards deciphering the 8–8’ linked lignan metabolic pathway and its utility to the bioengineering of human foodstuffs.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Biological Chemistry, Washington State University, Pullman, Washington, 99164-6340, USA

    Michael A. Costa, Zhi-Qiang Xia, Laurence B. Davin & Norman G. Lewis

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  1. Michael A. Costa
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  2. Zhi-Qiang Xia
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  3. Laurence B. Davin
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  4. Norman G. Lewis
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  1. University of South Florida, Tampa, Florida, USA

    John T. Romeo

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Costa, M.A., Xia, ZQ., Davin, L.B., Lewis, N.G. (1999). Toward Engineering the Metabolic Pathways of Cancer-Preventing Lignans in Cereal Grains and Other Crops. In: Romeo, J.T. (eds) Phytochemicals in Human Health Protection, Nutrition, and Plant Defense. Recent Advances in Phytochemistry, vol 33. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4615-4689-4_4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4615-4689-4_4

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Boston, MA

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