Phytoestrogens

The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of puerarin (Pue), a phytoestrogen, on the production performance, egg quality, endocrine hormones, antioxidant capacity, and intestinal morphology in aged laying hens. A total of 180 Hy-Line Brown hens aged 480 d were randomly divided into 4 groups (n = 45 per group) and fed 0, 200, 400, and 800 mg/kg of Pue (Con, L-Pue, M-Pue, and H-Pue, respectively) during a 42-d experiment. Compared with the Con treatment, supplementation with H-Pue improved laying performance and egg quality by significantly increasing egg production, average egg weight, albumen height, yolk weight, and Haugh unit (P < 0...

We presented a 30-year-old man suffering from severe oligozoospermia caused by substantial sperm maturation arrest around the spermatid stage. Additionally, he was suffering from a varicocele. For three years, the couple had been trying to conceive. The clinical and endocrinological evaluation of the woman revealed that she was medically fit to undergo pregnancy. We performed laparoscopic ligation of the spermatic vein to treat the varicocele. Semen analysis was conducted at the beginning of the clinical pregnancy journey and after three and six months of treatment, which included 80 mg/day of phytoestrogens for six months...

Breast cancer (BC) is currently one of the most common cancers in women worldwide with a rising tendency. Epigenetics, generally inherited variations in gene expression that occur independently of changes in DNA sequence, and their disruption could be one of the main causes of BC due to inflammatory processes often associated with different lifestyle habits. In particular, hormone therapies are often indicated for hormone-positive BC, which accounts for more than 50-80% of all BC subtypes. Although the cure rate in the early stage is more than 70%, serious negative side effects such as secondary osteoporosis (OP) due to induced estrogen deficiency and chemotherapy are increasingly reported...

Isoflavones, belonging to polyphenolic compounds, show structural similarity to natural estrogens, and in this context, they have been extensively studied. Some of them are also applied as cosmetic additives; however, little is known regarding their effects on skin cells. In this investigation, common isoflavones, including genistein, daidzein, glycitein, formononetin, and biochanin A, as well as coumestrol, were evaluated for antioxidant activity and their impact on human skin fibroblasts and keratinocytes...

Vegetables and fruits contain prenylflavonoids with biological functions that might improve human health. The prenylflavonoid isoxanthohumol (IXA) and its derivative, 8-prenylnaringenin (8-PN), have beneficial activities, including anti-cancer effects and suppression of insulin resistance. However, their pharmacokinetic profile is unclear. Previous studies suggested flavonoids have low systemic availability and are excreted via the feces. Therefore, this study investigated the tissue distribution dynamics of high-purity IXA (>90%) from hops administered orally, either singly (50 mg/kg body weight [BW]) or daily for 14 days (30 mg/kg BW), to mice...

BACKGROUND: The role of phytoestrogens in asthma/wheeze and lung function remains controversial. Thus, we aimed to examine whether phytoestrogens have beneficial effects on asthma/wheeze, lung function for subgroups and mortality. METHODS: Participants in this study were individuals aged 20 years or older from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. Multivariate logistic regression models were fitted to examine the associations of urinary phytoestrogens with the risk of asthma/wheeze and lung function in individuals with and without asthma/wheeze...

BACKGROUND: Hair loss/thinning is a common side effect of tamoxifen in estrogen receptor (ER) positive breast cancer therapy. Some nutraceuticals known to promote hair growth are avoided during breast cancer therapy for fear of phytoestrogenic activity. However, not all botanical ingredients have similarities to estrogens, and in fact, no information exists as to the true interaction of these ingredients with tamoxifen. Therefore, this study sought to ascertain the effect of nutraceuticals (+/- estrogen/tamoxifen), on proliferation of breast cancer cells and the relative expression of ERα/β...

Isoflavonoids constitute a well-investigated category of phenylpropanoid-derived specialized metabolites primarily found in leguminous plants. They play a crucial role in legume development and interactions with the environment. Isoflavonoids usually function as phytoalexins, acting against pathogenic microbes in nature. Additionally, they serve as signaling molecules in rhizobial symbiosis. Notably, owing to their molecular structure resembling human estrogen, they are recognized as phytoestrogens, imparting positive effects on human health...

Patients with severe mental disorders such as bipolar disorder (BD), schizophrenia (SCZ) and major depressive disorder (MDD) show a substantial reduction in life expectancy, increased incidence of comorbid medical conditions commonly observed with advanced age and alterations of aging hallmarks. While severe mental disorders are heritable, the extent to which genetic predisposition might contribute to accelerated cellular aging is not known. We used bivariate causal mixture models to quantify the trait-specific and shared architecture of mental disorders and 2 aging hallmarks (leukocyte telomere length [LTL] and mitochondrial DNA copy number), and the conjunctional false discovery rate method to detect shared genetic loci...

Isoflavones are a group of (poly)phenols, also defined as phytoestrogens, with chemical structures comparable with estrogen, that exert weak estrogenic effects. These phytochemical compounds have been targeted for their proven antioxidant and protective effects. Recognizing the increasing prevalence of cardiovascular diseases (CVD), there is a growing interest in understanding the potential cardiovascular benefits associated with these phytochemical compounds. Gut microbiota may play a key role in mediating the effects of isoflavones on vascular and endothelial functions, as it is directly implicated in isoflavones metabolism...

In the original publication [...].

Prostate cancer is a widespread malignancy among men, with a substantial global impact on morbidity and mortality. Despite advances in conventional therapies, the need for innovative and less toxic treatments remains a priority. Emerging evidence suggests that dietary plant metabolites possess epigenetic-modifying properties, making them attractive candidates for prostate cancer treatment. The present work reviews the epigenetic effects of dietary plant metabolites in the context of prostate cancer therapy...

Menopause is a state of estrogen deficiency that affects numerous estrogen-dependent tissues in the female body. Skin is one of the most affected organs. Many consider menopausal skin changes to be merely an aesthetic problem; however, they can significantly affect women's quality of life. Currently, there are no approved effective treatments to prevent or alleviate skin changes associated with estrogen deficiency. Standard systemic hormone replacement therapy used to treat menopausal symptoms may be effective to some degree for skin treatment...

Estrogen plays crucial roles in ovarian tumorigenesis. Phytoestrogens (PEs) are a type of daily dietary nutrients for humans and possess a mild estrogenic characteristic. This study aimed to assess the correlation of the consumption of dietary PEs with ovarian cancer risk using data in the Prostate, Lung, Colorectal and Ovarian (PLCO) Cancer Screening Trial. Participants were enrolled in PLCO from 1993 to 2001. Hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were utilized to determine the association between the intake of PEs and ovarian cancer occurrence, which were calculated by the Cox proportional hazards regression analysis...

Phytoestrogens, such as isoflavones, are known for their capacity to simulate various physiological impacts of estrogen in the human body. Our research evaluated the effects of isoflavone-enriched soybean leaves (IESL) on collagen fiber loss prompted by ovariectomy in Sprague Dawley (SD) rats, thereby simulating menopausal changes in women. IESL, bolstered with an increased concentration of isoflavones through a metabolite farming process, contained a significantly higher amount of isoflavones than regular soybean leaves...

Soybean is a source of protein, fibers, and phytochemical isoflavones which are considered to have numerous health benefits for children and adulthood. On the other hand, isoflavones are widely known as phytoestrogens that exert their action via the estrogen signaling pathway. With this regard, isoflavones are also considered as endocrine-disrupting chemicals. Endogenous estrogen plays a crucial role in brain development through binding to estrogen receptors (ERs) or G protein-coupled estrogen receptors 1 (GPER1) and regulates morphogenesis, migration, functional maturation, and intracellular metabolism of neurons and glial cells...

The human gut microbiota regulates estrogen metabolism through the "estrobolome," the collection of bacterial genes that encode enzymes like β-glucuronidases and β-glucosidases. These enzymes deconjugate and reactivate estrogen, influencing circulating levels. The estrobolome mediates the enterohepatic circulation and bioavailability of estrogen. Alterations in gut microbiota composition and estrobolome function have been associated with estrogen-related diseases like breast cancer, enometrial cancer, and polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS)...

INTRODUCTION: Endometrial polyps (EPs) result from the overgrowth of endometrial glands and stroma. Giant endometrial polyps, defined as those exceeding 4 cm, are rare, and their association with phytoestrogen (PE) intake is infrequently reported. CASE PRESENTATION: The authors present a case of a giant endometrial polyp in a 59-year-old post-menopausal woman from Nepal. The patient presented with lower abdominal pain and a history of vaginal spotting. She was not under any drugs or medications, including hormones, but had a regular intake of PE-rich foods...

Immune checkpoints regulate the immune system response. Recent studies suggest that flavonoids, known as phytoestrogens, may inhibit the PD-1/PD-L1 axis. We explored the potential of estrogens and 17 Selective Estrogen Receptor Modulators (SERMs) as inhibiting ligands for immune checkpoint proteins (CTLA-4, PD-L1, PD-1, and CD80). Our docking studies revealed strong binding energy values for quinestrol, quercetin, and bazedoxifene, indicating their potential to inhibit PD-1 and CTLA-4. Quercetin and bazedoxifene, known to modulate EGFR and IL-6R alongside estrogen receptors, can influence the immune checkpoint functionality...

Endogenous estrogens regulate essential functions to include menstrual cycles, energy balance, adipose tissue distribution, pancreatic β-cell function, insulin sensitivity, and lipid homeostasis. Estrogens are a family of hormones which include estradiol (E2), estrone (E1), and estriol (E3). Estrogens function by binding and activating estrogen receptors (ERs). Phytoestrogens are plant-derived compounds which exhibit estrogenic-like activity and can bind to ERs. Phytoestrogens exert potential estrogenic-like benefits; however, their effects are context-dependent and require cautious consideration regarding generalized health benefits...