Phytoestrogens and Health Effects

Abstract

Phytoestrogens are literally estrogenic substances of plant origin. Although these substances are useful for plants in many aspects, their estrogenic properties are essentially relevant to their predators. As such, phytoestrogens can be considered to be substances potentially dedicated to plant–predator interaction. Therefore, it is not surprising to note that the word phytoestrogen comes from the early discovery of estrogenic effects in grazing animals and humans. Here, several compounds whose activities have been discovered at nutritional concentrations in animals and humans are examined. The substances analyzed belong to several chemical families, i.e., the flavanones, the coumestans, the resorcylic acid lactones, the isoflavones, and the enterolignans. Following their definition and the evocation of their role in plants, their metabolic transformations and bioavailabilities are discussed. A point is then made regarding their health effects, which can either be beneficial or adverse depending on the subject studied, the sex, the age, and the physiological status. Toxicological information is given based on official data. The effects are first presented in humans. Animal models are evoked when no data are available in humans. The effects are presented with a constant reference to doses and plausible exposure.

Blackcurrant extract promotes the differentiation of MC3T3-E1 pre-osteoblasts

“…This study focused on phytoestrogen activity, and previous studies suggest that pathways other than estrogen signaling pathways are also activated. However, the mechanism is complex, as phytoestrogens activate the signal transducers and activators of transcription PI3K-AKT, Src/ERK1/2, and nuclear factor-kappa B through estrogen receptors within seconds [47,48]. Moreover, BCE likely interacts with these factors through estrogen receptors.…”

Rutin Promotes Proliferation and Orchestrates Epithelial–Mesenchymal Transition and Angiogenesis in MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231 Breast Cancer Cells

“…The present data are opposite to those reported in the literature. One possible explanation for these controversial results is based on the fact that rutin is a phytoestrogen compound with a variety of beneficial or adverse effects depending on the subject studied, the sex, the age, and the physiological status [24]. Phytoestrogens have been shown to exert estrogenic effects by acting on estrogen receptors (ERs) [25].…”

Molecular mechanisms underlying the potential neuroprotective effects of Trifolium pratense and its phytoestrogen‐isoflavones in neurodegenerative disorders

“…Phytoestrogens‐isoflavones share a common feature, as depicted in Figure 1, which is basically the presence of at least two hydroxyl groups situated in opposite positions on the molecule and usually at a distance of 10 angstroms, as in 17β‐estradiol (E2). These hydroxyl groups take charge of the interaction of phytoestrogens with the ligand‐binding domain (LBD) of ERs (Canivenc‐Lavier & Bennetau‐Pelissero, 2023).…”