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Hot Flashes/Hot Flushes/Menopausal Symptoms
Published in Charles Theisler, Adjuvant Medical Care, 2023
Soy isoflavones may have benefits for hot flashes.7 Asian women who consume a plant estrogen known as soy isoflavones regularly are less likely to report hot flashes and other menopausal symptoms than women in other parts of the world. It is possible that this is related to the estrogen-like compounds in soy.8
Herbs in Cancer Therapy
Published in Anil K. Sharma, Raj K. Keservani, Surya Prakash Gautam, Herbal Product Development, 2020
Annum Malik, Shahzadi Sidra Saleem, Kifayat Ullah Shah, Learn-Han Lee, Bey Hing Goh, Tahir Mehmood Khan
Flavonoids, or bioflavonoids, include about 3000 natural phenolic structures. They commonly occur in almost every vegetable, fruit, and herb. They are also found in tea and coffee. Flavonoids constitute a considerable part of our daily dietary value, mostly in the form of quercetin (Kühnau 1976). They act as anti-inflammatory, enzyme inhibitors, that can potentially improve capillary resistance and battle free radicals. Flavonoids are classified into flavanones, flavones, isoflavones, flavonols, flavanols, and anthocyanidins. Flavanones have limited distribution, found mainly in citrus fruits such as lemons and oranges (Hollman et al. 1997). Flavones are widely distributed, such as luteolin and apigenin. Isoflavones include genistein, which can potentially inhibit human prostate cancer cells, and daidzein. Food rich in isoflavones includes legumes such as soy. Flavonols are found as naturally occurring glycosides, and the major ones include kaempferol and quercetin. Flavanols, or flavan-3-ols, have limited distribution and are found in tea, apples, broccoli, etc. Catechins such as epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) are an example of flavanols. Anthrocyanidins are red-blue pigments found in berries. They are responsible for pigmentation in fruits.
Anti-Cancer Agents from Natural Sources
Published in Rohit Dutt, Anil K. Sharma, Raj K. Keservani, Vandana Garg, Promising Drug Molecules of Natural Origin, 2020
Debasish Bandyopadhyay, Felipe Gonzalez
Isoflavones are a subcategory of flavonoids, also called phytoestrogens, as many of these compounds have estrogenic activity in human. Isoflavonoids have a B-ring attached to a C3 carbon (C6-C3-C6 backbone) (Figure 5.20). Isoflavones can be found in foods which include dairy products, oils, and legumes. Upto now, many isoflavones have been tested for their anticancer potential. Their anticancer potential arises from their functional similarity to estrogens, which bind to estrogen receptor (ER)-beta rather than ER-alpha. Two commonly known isoflavones viz. genistein and daidzein are the major isoflavones in soybean. Ardito et al. (2017)assayed the efficacy of genistein in tongue (oral) cancer, which is an aggressive SCC, although having a comparatively reasonable 5-year survival rate which is 84% for non-spread cancer, 64% for that has spread to nearby lymph nodes, and 39% for cancer that has metastasized to other regions of the body. Early stage indications are jaw pain, lump inside the mouth, white or red gums, and difficulty chewing or moving the tongue, before they are fully diagnosed (Tongue Cancer, 2018). As limited chemotherapeutic agents are available for this cancer, new drugs are essential to ensure complete eradication (Oral Cancer: Your chances for recovery (prognosis), 2018). Genistein at 20-50 µM concentration inhibited cell adhesion by preventing cells to stink with one another. Cell life was reduced significantly at a moderate concentration of genistein. Metastasis was also inhibited due to down-regulation of an a few important proteins, like OCT4.
Estrogen receptors as potential therapeutic target in endometrial cancer
Published in Journal of Receptors and Signal Transduction, 2023
Payel Guha, Koushik Sen, Piyali Chowdhury, Dilip Mukherjee
Phytoestrogens are flavonoids and nonflavonoids. Isoflavones are flavonoids that include mainly genistein and daidzein and the main dietary source is soybeans and soy products. Genistein [4,5,7-trihydroxyisoflavone or 5,7-dihydroxy-3- (4-hydroxyphenyl) chromen-4-one] (C15H10O5) is the most important isoflavones, with a 15-carbon skeleton. Ring B of this compound is linked to heterocyclic ring at the C3 instead of the C2 position [80,81]. Anticancer effects of novasoy and genistein through modulation of ER has been reported. In ER-mediated EC cells, genistein, and novasoy strongly inhibited cell proliferation in a dose-dependent manner via down-regulation of critical signaling pathways including the NF-κB, AKT/mTOR, JNK, MAPK, IGF, and EGF pathways [82]. Even risk of EC developed in tamoxifen-treated breast cancer has also been shown to be negatively associated in patients treated with genistein for prolonged period [83,84]. Recent evidences showed that genistein inhibits type-II EC cell proliferation by inhibiting EGFR signaling, and induces apoptosis in primary endometrial hyperplasial cells by blocking cell survival pathways of PI3K/Akt and NF-κB [85]. These results are indicative of the effect of genistein as potential therapeutic alternative in the prevention and treatment of EC.
Urinary Phytoestrogen Levels Are Associated with Female Hormonal Cancers: An Analysis of NHANES Data From 1999 to 2010
Published in Nutrition and Cancer, 2022
Alice W. Lee, Valerie Poynor, Archana J. McEligot
Several epidemiologic studies have examined the association between phytoestrogens and breast, endometrial, and ovarian cancer, three malignancies where estrogen is thought to play an etiologic role (3). Exposure to phytoestrogens, especially soy, has been extensively studied for breast cancer, and while several studies have shown a modest protective effect (4–8), others have not observed this decreased risk (9–13). In the European Prospective Investigation of Cancer and Nutrition-Norfolk study, isoflavones measured via urine and serum samples were found to increase breast cancer risk (9). Although the role of phytoestrogens in endometrial and ovarian cancer has been studied less than in breast cancer, the existing literature has been conflicting as well (14–17). In epidemiologic studies where phytoestrogen exposure was determined from dietary questionnaires, Budhathoki et al found no association with endometrial cancer (14) whereas Horn-Ross et al observed a reduced risk (15). Similarly for ovarian cancer, Hedelin et al found no association (16) whereas McCann et al observed a protective effect (17).
Efficacy and Safety of Nutraceutical on Menopausal Symptoms in Post-Menopausal Women: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Clinical Trial
Published in Journal of Dietary Supplements, 2022
Teerapong Rattanatantikul, Mart Maiprasert, Pansak Sugkraroek, Akkarach Bumrungpert
In regard to soy isoflavones, a previous meta-analysis that demonstrated that supplementation with these compounds can significantly reduce hot flush frequency and severity greater than placebo in menopausal women (North American Menopause Society 2011; Taku et al. 2012), Soy isoflavones can also reduce night sweats (Upmalis et al. 2000), improve lipid balance (Han et al. 2002), quality of life (physical and psychological) (Basaria et al. 2009), and improve general menopause symptoms greater than placebo (Nahas et al. 2007). Moreover, soy isoflavone supplementation can improve sleep problems (Chen et al. 2019). Soy isoflavone is enriched for the key phytoestrogens daidzein and genistein with a relatively higher proportion of daidzein. While genistein has been recognized as the key isoflavone responsible for improving menopausal symptoms (Williamson-Hughes et al. 2006), due to its high ER binding affinity, daidzein is the main precursor of equol, a bioactive isoflavonoid gut flora metabolite that also shows ERβ binding affinity (Setchell et al. 2005). Hence both isoflavones result in ER-mediated effects similar to estradiol (Morito et al. 2001).