Anti‐inflammatory and Neuroprotective Effect of a Phytoestrogen Compound on Rat Microglia

Abstract

Ovariectomized Wistar rats received orally 15 mg/kg of a phytoestrogen compound (genistein, daidzein, glycitein, black cohosh, angelica sin., licorice, vitex agnus) for 2 weeks to test its ability to modulate inflammatory microglia response. Microglial proliferation was tested by trypan blue and by absorbance. Serial supernatant sampling was performed for 24 h to check TNF-alpha, IL-beta, IL-6, and TGF-beta. LPS caused a time course increase of all cytokines, with IL-beta and TNF-alpha peaking at the 12th hour, whereas IL-6 and TGF-beta peaked at the 24 h observation. Rats fed with the phytoestrogen displayed a significantly lower level of proinflammatory cytokines and a higher level of TGF-beta, as shown also by Western blot analysis. This finding may offer promise in the field of nutraceutical intervention.

Endotoxin induces a delayed loss of TH-IR neurons in substantia nigra and motor behavioral deficits

“…Recently, Tenenbaum et al (2007) reported that 17 beta-estradiol (E2) significantly reduced LPS-induced increase in NO and TNFα (but not PGE 2 ) production in glial cells. Marotta et al (2006) found that phytoestrogen treatment lowered levels of proinflammatory cytokines including TNFα, IL-β and IL-6 and a higher level of TGF-β. Since female mice are more resistant to LPS exposure, repeated injections of LPS are required to show behavioral deficits and neuronal damage, possibly implying a protective effect of estrogen or other femalespecific factors on LPS-induced damages in vivo as well.…”

Genistein Protects Against Biomarkers of Delayed Lung Sequelae in Mice Surviving High-Dose Total Body Irradiation

“…8,11) Genistein, a soy isoflavone, is currently being developed as a radiation protective agent in our laboratory. This compound has antioxidant, free radical scavenging, 15,16) antiinflammatory, 17,18) and antimicrobial properties, 19) making it an ideal candidate for ameliorating both the acute and late effects of ionizing radiation. It was previously demonstrated that male mice receiving repeated daily oral administration of genistein, 20,21) or a single subcutaneous (SC) injection of genistein 24 h before exposure, survive an acute dose of gamma radiation that would otherwise be lethal.…”

“…Both of these phases of injury are associated with high mortality. [8][9][10][11] Individuals accidentally exposed to [8][9][10][11][12][13][14][15][16][17][18][19][20][21][22][23][24] Gy radiation in the Tokai-mura, Japan radiation accident were successfully treated for acute radiation injuries but succumbed to delayed respiratory failure between 82-210 days postirradiation. 12,13) A radiation accident victim in Belarus also recovered from acute injuries but died from radiation-induced pneumonitis 130 days following a 10 Gy exposure.…”

Therapeutic effects of cimicifuga racemosa-a short review

“…[11,12] : Based on a systematic review, y evidence of antiproliferative properties of black cohosh but a lack of confirmation from clinical studies for a protective role in cancer studies have reported black cohosh to possess inhibitory effects on estrogen responsive cell lines/breast cancer cells. Furthermore, in a cell line study, relatively low concentrations of actein or the methanol/water fraction of black cohosh may cause synergistic inhibition of human breast cancer cell proliferation when combined with different classes of Acetein may activate genes that respond to DNA damage and unfolded protein responses, and enhance apoptosis and repressed cell in vitro study conducted on human prostate cancer cells with black cohosh extract, the extract killed hormone-responsive or hormone-unresponsive prostate cancer cells by induction of apoptosis and activation of caspases.…”