Advances in Agricultural Applications of Lignans

Despite well-documented pharmacological profiles of lignans in human therapeutics, their agricultural and veterinary potential remains fragmented without unified collation. This systematic review synthesizes literature published from 2001 to 2026, categorizing lignan compounds by carbon-skeleton classification frameworks. Representative classic lignans, neolignans, oligolignans, and complex lignans exhibit diverse bioactivities, including antifungal, antibacterial, plant-growth-regulating, herbicidal, insecticidal, and acaricidal properties. We compiled quantitative bioassay metrics including half-maximal effective concentration (EC₅₀), median lethal concentration (LC₅₀), and minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC), alongside livestock production indices to compare agricultural and veterinary performance. Structure-activity relationships and molecular mechanisms of key lignan scaffolds are analyzed, and research bottlenecks for each subtype are highlighted. Prospects are outlined for developing lignan-derived green botanical pesticides and natural antibiotic-replacing feed additives. This review delivers systematic data and theoretical reference for further exploitation of lignan-based agrochemical leads and livestock antibiotic alternatives.