Arctiin is the major active lignin in fruits of the burdock plant A. lappa. It demonstrates potent antiviral activity against influenza A virus and anti-inflammatory effects by decreasing the production of nitric oxide and pro-inflammatory cytokines. Arctiin is metabolized by human intestinal bacteria into various bioactive metabolites including arctigenin and enterolactone , which respectively exhibit growth inhibitory and growth promoting activity in MCF-7 breast cancer cells at 10 μM.
