The Influence of Plant Isoflavones Daidzein and Equol on Female Reproductive Processes

Abstract

In this review, we explore the current literature on the influence of the plant isoflavone daidzein and its metabolite equol on animal and human physiological processes, with an emphasis on female reproduction including ovarian functions (the ovarian cycle; follicullo- and oogenesis), fundamental ovarian-cell functions (viability, proliferation, and apoptosis), the pituitary and ovarian endocrine regulators of these functions, and the possible intracellular mechanisms of daidzein action. Furthermore, we discuss the applicability of daidzein for the control of animal and human female reproductive processes, and how to make this application more efficient. The existing literature demonstrates the influence of daidzein and its metabolite equol on various nonreproductive and reproductive processes and their disorders. Daidzein and equol can both up- and downregulate the ovarian reception of gonadotropins, healthy and cancerous ovarian-cell proliferation, apoptosis, viability, ovarian growth, follicullo- and oogenesis, and follicular atresia. These effects could be mediated by daidzein and equol on hormone production and reception, reactive oxygen species, and intracellular regulators of proliferation and apoptosis. Both the stimulatory and the inhibitory effects of daidzein and equol could be useful for reproductive stimulation, the prevention and mitigation of cancer development, and the adverse effects of environmental stressors in reproductive biology and medicine.

Bacterial diversity and metabolites: Exploring correlations with preservative properties in soybean pastes

“…A strong correlation between some bacterial communities and some metabolites in soybean pastes had been established (Figure 6d), for example, Lactobacillus positively with daidzein and 3,4,5-trihydroxypentanoylcarnitine, Tetragenococcus positively with 3,7-dimethyl-1-propargylxanthine, Pediococcus positively with 2-hydroxycinnamic acid, Oceanobacillus negatively with citric acid, Bacillus positively with N-linoleoyl phenylalanine but negatively with four metabolites, 1, N6-ethenoadenosin, 2-deoxy-2,3-dehydro-n-acetyl-neuraminic acid, 3,4,5trihydroxypentanoylcarnitine, and fructosyl valine. These mentioned metabolites usually functioned health to human or medicinal benefit (Angumeenal & Venkappayya, 2013;Dang et al, 2011;Gray, 2004;Laddha & Kulkarni, 2021;Mao et al, 2003;Meindl et al, 1974;Netto et al, 2013;Rioux & Delaney, 2020;Seale et al, 1988;Sirotkin et al, 2021;Zhuang et al, 2009). It serves as a reminder that the characteristics of metabolic chemicals can be managed by mediating the microbial structure.…”

Unveiling the Pharmacological and Nanotechnological Facets of Daidzein: Present State-of-the-Art and Future Perspectives

“…According to animal model studies, absolute bioavailability of DAI suspension after oral administration to rats was 6.1%, which seems to be the greatest constraint limiting therapeutic and pharmacological uses. There have been numerous approaches investigated to make DAI more bioavailable by derivatizing ionizable groups (such as sulfation, phosphating, or glycosylation of DAI) to more water-soluble forms [ 25 , 26 , 27 , 28 , 29 , 30 ].…”

“…Different analogs of DAI (such as equol, 17 β-estradiol, 7, 3′, 4′-THIf and daidzin) exhibited the similar mechanism as DAI by binding with the protein kinase B, estrogen receptors, mitogen-activated protein kinase, and epidermal growth factor receptor kinase, nuclear factor kappa-light-chain-enhancer of activated B cells, and other intracellular signaling mechanisms [ 30 , 57 ]. Figure 2 illustrates the numerous mechanisms through which DAI exerts its therapeutic potential in a variety of essential body organs.…”