Lignans in korean food materials

In many countries, including Korea, functional compound databases for domestic agricultural products are being developed and regularly updated to support public health initiatives and the food industry. These databases provide valuable information for improving dietary health and developing high-value-added food products.

Our laboratory is contributing to a project led by the Rural Development Administration to establish a database of lignan compounds in food materials. This involves the isolation, purification, and structural characterization of lignans. While international databases on lignan-containing foods exist, they differ in food types and focus. Therefore, we are conducting qualitative and quantitative analyses of lignans in foods commonly consumed in Korea, particularly those rich in lignans, to create a localized database.

Furthermore, we aim to isolate and identify bioactive lignans from these foods, including novel lignans, to support future research on the high-value utilization of agricultural and food resources.