Dibenzylbutyrolactone Lignans – A Review of Their Structural Diversity, Biosynthesis, Occurrence, Identification and Importance

Objective: Dibenzylbutyrolactone lignans represent a unique group of plant secondary metabolites with increasing significance in medicine. This review summarizes their structural characteristics and classification, as well as the biosynthesis starting in the chloroplast, and their supposed biological activity associated with plant defense mechanisms are also discussed. Over 85 natural dibenzylbutyrolactone lignans known to date and their corresponding plant sources are summarized herein for the first time, highlighting a taxon- and organ-specific accumulation of these compounds. Conclusion: The isolation strategies, applied analytical methods and pharmacological activities of dibenzylbutyrolactone lignans are also thoroughly reviewed.