Nyasol, also known as ''cis''-hinokiresinol or as (''Z'')-hinokiresinol, is a

lignan The lignans are a large group of low molecular weight polyphenols found in plants, particularly seeds, whole grains, and vegetables. The name derives from the Latin word for "wood". Lignans are precursors to phytoestrogens. They may play a role ...

that is found in '' Anemarrhena asphodeloides''.Kwon, J., Kondaji, G., Song, S., Kim, C., Lee, K., Kim, W. K., & Choi, Y. (2013). Synthesis of naturally occurring norlignan (±)-nyasol. Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society, 34(4), 1247-1249. It has

estrogen Estrogen or oestrogen is a category of sex hormone responsible for the development and regulation of the female reproductive system and secondary sex characteristics. There are three major endogenous estrogens that have estrogenic hormonal ac ...

ic activity, acting as a selective agonist of the

ERβ Estrogen receptor beta (ERβ) also known as NR3A2 (nuclear receptor subfamily 3, group A, member 2) is one of two main types of estrogen receptor—a nuclear receptor which is activated by the sex hormone estrogen. In humans ERβ is encoded by ...

, and hence is a phytoestrogen. In addition, (-)-nyasol has been found to inhibit the production of

eicosanoid Eicosanoids are signaling molecules made by the enzymatic or non-enzymatic oxidation of arachidonic acid or other polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) that are, similar to arachidonic acid, around 20 carbon units in length. Eicosanoids are a s ...

s and nitric oxide ''

in vitro ''In vitro'' (meaning in glass, or ''in the glass'') studies are performed with microorganisms, cells, or biological molecules outside their normal biological context. Colloquially called " test-tube experiments", these studies in biology ...

'' and shows

anti-inflammatory Anti-inflammatory is the property of a substance or treatment that reduces inflammation or swelling. Anti-inflammatory drugs, also called anti-inflammatories, make up about half of analgesics. These drugs remedy pain by reducing inflammation as o ...

effects.

References

Lignans Phytoestrogens Selective ERβ agonists {{organic-compound-stub