Phyto-oestrogens

Abstract

Phyto-oestrogens are oestrogenic compounds found in plants and consist of isoflavones, lignans and coumestans. Epidemiological studies provide evidence for a protective role of isoflavones, and to a lesser extent lignans, against the development of numerous chronic diseases, including several cancers, cardiovascular disease and osteoporosis. The structural similarity of phyto-oestrogens to endogenous oestrogens has prompted the hypothesis that phyto-oestrogens exert hormonal or anti-hormonal effects relevant to the risk of hormone-dependent disease and/or their suitability as a dietary alternative to hormone replacement therapy. The many human studies that have evaluated the effects of isoflavones and lignans on various endpoints relating to risk of various diseases have greatly increased knowledge of how these compounds behave. At the same time, additional questions have been generated. For example, the increasing interest in extracting isoflavones from the soybean for incorporation into dietary supplements has raised important concerns regarding safety and efficacy. Overall, it is clear that phyto-oestrogens are an area of active and advancing research with great potential to continue to affect human health.

Phytoestrogens in bovine plasma and milk - LC-MS/MS analysis

“…The interest in these compounds started in the 80 th of the last century, when epidemiological studies comparing Western and Asian diets indicated that a phytoestrogenrich diet may prevent diseases such as breast and prostate cancer, cardiovascular diseases, osteoporosis, menopausal symptoms, etc. (Duncan et al 2003;Cornwell et al 2004). The putative beneficial health effects of isoflavones are based on their structural similarity to the mammalian estrogen 17β-estradiol.…”

Effects of Genistein on Cell Proliferation and Adipogenesis in Mouse 3T3-L1 Preadipocytes

“…또한, genistein은 estrogen과 유사한 구조를 가짐으로써 estrogen receptor-β에 높 은 친화도를 가지고 있으며, 여성호르몬 유사 작용이 있어 식 물성 에스트로겐(phytoestrogen) 이라고도 불린다 [3]. 또한, genistein은 마우스3T3-L1 전지방 세포에서 지방세포의 증식 과 지질축적을 억제하며 지방세포의 지방분해를 증가시킨다 는 연구결과들이 보고된 바 있다 [5][6][7].…”

Quantitation of genistein and genistin in soy dry extracts by UV-Visible spectrophotometric method

“…They also occur naturally in soy as their glycosides, named daidzin, genistin and glycitin, respectively. 3 When orally administered, isoflavones glycosides undergo enzymatic hydrolysis in the small intestine, releasing the aglycones, the moieties which are absorbed and present biologic effects. 4 In vitro studies for these aglycones have demonstrated that genistein exhibits the highest affinity for estrogenic receptors, 5 being approximately ten times more active in vivo than daidzein.…”