The Power of Lignans: Plant Compounds with Multifaceted Health-Promoting Effects

Lignans are plant-derived biphenolic compounds with multiple hydroxyl groups, which, upon ingestion, are metabolized by gut microbiota into enterolignans-enterolactone and enterodiol. These mammalian metabolites exhibit structural similarity to estradiol, enabling lignans to modulate hormonal balance and exert estrogen-like effects. A growing body of evidence highlights their broad spectrum of health-promoting properties, including antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and hormone-regulating effects. Lignans have shown potential in alleviating menopausal symptoms, preventing estrogen-dependent cancers, and mitigating conditions such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and metabolic syndrome. Additionally, their antimicrobial activity against bacteria, fungi, and viruses is being increasingly recognized. This review provides a comprehensive and up-to-date synthesis of current knowledge. It uniquely integrates the latest insights into lignan biosynthesis, gut microbiota-mediated metabolism, and clinically relevant outcomes. Importantly, this review incorporates recent findings from prospective cohort studies and meta-analyses and sheds light on emerging therapeutic applications, including antifungal activity-an area rarely covered in earlier literature. By presenting a holistic perspective, this review advances our understanding of lignans as multifaceted compounds with significant potential in preventive and therapeutic health strategies.