Lignan compounds are known to have various biological activities, especially antioxidative effects. We investigated whether lignan compounds show antioxidative activity in myoblast C2C12 cells. Among 14 lignan compounds investigated, two lignans containing two phenolic functional groups, namely Gomisin J and GR-12, prevented hydrogen peroxide (H2O2)-induced cell death. A simple compound, 4,4'-dihydroxybiphenyl, which was found to be a common component of Gomisin J and GR-12, also largely prevented H2O2-induced cell death and almost completely prevented H2O2-induced increases in p38 MAPK phosphorylation. Our present results provide a useful in vitro system for clarifying the molecular mechanisms of lignan-mediated antioxidative effects and evaluating lead molecules toward the development of therapeutic drugs. (c) 2006 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.