• A member of a group of substances found in plants that have shown estrogenic and anticancer effects. Lignans have been used in some cultures to treat certain medical problems.
  NCI Dictionary of Cancer Terms
  U.S. National Cancer Institute, 2021
• Plant products of low molecular weight representing the dimer intermediate between monomeric propylphenol and lignin.
  CRISP Thesaurus
  National Institutes of Health, 2006
• Two (hydr)oxylated phenyl-propane (C6C3) monomers connected by the beta carbons of the C3 chains to form a) diarylbutanes, and sometimes by additional other bonds to form b) dihydronaphtalenes, c) tetrahydrofuranes, d) dioxabicyclooctanes. The building blocks for lignin. (Boker, et al)
  CRCH Nutrition Terminology
  Cancer Research Center of Hawaii, University of Hawaii, 2021
• A class of dibenzylbutane derivatives which occurs in higher plants and in fluids (bile, serum, urine, etc.) in man and other animals. These compounds, which have a potential anti-cancer role, can be synthesized in vitro by human fecal flora. (From Singleton & Sainsbury, Dictionary of Microbiology and Molecular Biology, 2d ed)
  NLM Medical Subject Headings
  U.S. National Library of Medicine, 2021
• Antioxidant chemicals found in seeds like flax and sesame, as well as some fruits, vegetables, and grains.
  Harvard Dictionary of Health Terms
  Harvard Medical Publishing, 2011