• Advances in Traditional Medicine
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• v.8 no.3
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• pp.228-235
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• 2008

This study was conducted to evaluate the estrogen activity of silkworm (Bombyx mori) pupa extracts and their fractions. Powdered samples of freeze-dried silkworm pupa were extracted at room temperature (RT), $40^{\circ}C$, $60^{\circ}C$, $80^{\circ}C$, and $100^{\circ}C$ in water (D.W), chloroform, ethyl acetate, and methanol for 6h and then filtered (0.45 um). The extracts were then freeze-dried. The estrogenic activity of these extracts was then investigated by competition binding assays using estrogen receptor ${\alpha}\;(ER{\alpha})$ and $ER{\beta}$, and by evaluating their effects on the proliferation of the human breast cancer cell line, MCF-7. Among the extracts evaluated, water extracts prepared at RT showed the highest binding affinity to $ER{\alpha}$ ($IC_{50}$, 1.76 ug/ml) and $ER{\beta}$ ($IC_{50}$, 0.07 ug/ml). In addition, MCF-7 cells that were treated with 62.5 ug/ml of the RT extract showed the greatest increase in proliferation (2-fold; 1291.79%) when compared to control cells (659.82%). Next, the water extract that was prepared at RT (sample 1) was dissolved in D.W. and further fractionated using a Dowex 50W - 8X ($H^+$) column. The flow-through and wash were then pooled together and freeze-dried (sample 2). The bound materials were then eluted with 20 mM NaCl, after which they were applied to a Dowex 1X2 - 200 ($Cl^-$) column and washed with D.W. to remove the sodium ions. The eluants were then freeze-dried (sample 3). Of these fractions, sample 2 showed the highest binding affinity to ER{\alpha} ($IC_{50}$, 1.44 ug/ml) and $ER{\beta}$ ($IC_{50}$, 1.18 ug/ml). In addition, MCF-7 cells that were treated with sample 2 (15.6 ug/ml) showed the largest increase in growth (1159.39%) when compared to control cells (525.26%). Taken together, these results suggest that the fraction of the RT water extract of silkworm pupa referred to as sample 2 may be useful as a phytoestrogen.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.47 no.5
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• pp.667-672
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• 2015

Cynanchum wilfordii and Phlomis umbrosa Turcz. are known to contain isoflavone, a representative phytoestrogen. This study was performed to determine whether the extract mixture of C. wilfordii and P. umbrosa Turcz. would induce an estrogenic effect in ovariectomized rats. The extracts were administered to the ovariectomized rats at 30, 60, 120 mg/kg per day for 4 weeks, respectively. They showed no estrogenic effect, which was indicated by the decrease in uterus wall thickness as well as the increase in body weight and the level of cholesterol and triglyceride. The extracts also had no effect on the concentrations of estrogen and growth hormone in the serum. However, the increase in alkaline phosphatase activity, which leads to protection against the bone loss caused by ovariectomy, was noted on administration of the extract. Therefore, it seemed that the extracts of C. wilfordii and P. umbrosa Turcz. had no estrogenic effect in rats.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.36 no.7
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• pp.736-742
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• 2003

Soybeans have been a major protein source for many centuries in Korea. Soybeans contain phytochemicals which are isoflavones, biochemically active component. Isoflavone is a kind of phytoestrogen, structurally and functionally similar to estrogen. It has been reported that the breast milk and blood of breast feeding mothers who consume soy products contain isoflavones. This study was conducted to investigate the effects of soy milk supplement on the isoflavones (daidzein, genistein) concentration of breast milk, plasma and urine from breast feeding woman. Seventeen healthy women who delivered at Kyung Hee Medical Center were recruited. For the first 2 weeks after delivery, seventeen women ingested 400 ml (isoflavone 43.2 mg) of soy milk on the given time starting from the day of giving birth. For the next 2 weeks, soy milk ingestion was withdrawn. Dietary intake and anthropometric data were checked and breast milk, blood, and 24 hr urine samples were collected on the day of giving birth, the 14th (the last day of the supplement phase) and 28th (the last day of the withdrawal phase) day, respectively. HPLC analysis was used to measure the concentration of isoflavones. Dietary intakes of the subjects were inadequate for the Korean RDA regardless of soy milk supplementation. Especially, intakes of vit A, calcium, and iron were very low. The Anthropometric data such as LBM, TBW, PIBW, BMI checked on the day of 14th decreased and maintained their levels by the 28th day. Daidzein concentration in breast milk was not affected by soy milk supplementation. However, genistein concentration decreased by the 28th day (14th day: 0.89 $\pm$ 0.10 $\mu$g/ml, 28th day : 0.48 $\pm$ 0.07 $\mu$g/ml) (p < 0.05). Plasma daidzein and genistein concentrations were not changed by the 14th day and decreased by the 28th day (14th day: 49.64 $\pm$ 3.30 ng/ml, 26.72 $\pm$ 2.90 ng/ml, 28th day: 38.30 $\pm$ 4.40 ng/ml, 6.51 $\pm$ 0.50 ng/ml, respectively) (p < 0.05). Twenty four hour urine concentrations of daidzein and genistein significantly increased by the 14th day and decreased by the 28th day (14th day: 5.80 :t 0.3 mg/d, 4.17 $\pm$ 0.2 mg/d, 28th day: 6.72 $\pm$ 0.4 mg/d, 5.09 $\pm$ 0.5 mg/d, respectively) (p < 0.001). The rate of urinary recovery of daidzein was greater than that of genistein. The results of this study indicate that the supplement of dietary soy milk to the lactating women elevates the contents of isoflavone in the breast milk.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.35 no.4
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• pp.316-324
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• 2007

We studied the effects of genistein obtained from glycolysis of genistin, a kind of phytoestrogen present in soybeans, on cell proliferation and type I pN collagen synthesis in normal human dermal fibroblasts(NHDF). Cell proliferation was increased significantly with genistein treatment at 54-year aged NHDF. Genistein increased cell proliferation more strongly in cells form old doner than young doner. The senescence-associated ${\beta}$-galatosidase activity was decreased in NHDF from 77-year old doner with genistein treatment. Type I pN collagen synthesis was increased with genistein treatement in UVA treated and non-treated NHDF. The increasement of collagen synthesis was more effective in aged cells than young cells. Type I pN collagen synthesis was also increased with genistein treatment in collagen matrix culture with NHDF from sun-exposed and non-exposed skin from 54-year old doner. Genistein treatment inhibited MMP-1 synthesis in old NHDF but not in young NHDF. In conclusion, genistein may be a useful agent for preventing intrinsic aging as well as photoaging.

• KSBB Journal
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• v.21 no.6 s.101
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• pp.444-450
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• 2006

Skin anti-aging effect of Forsythia viridissima L. extract was evaluated by using antioxidant assay, expression of type I procollagen, and UVA-induced matrix metalloproteinase-1 in human dermal fibroblasts. Matairesinol-rich Forsythia viridissima L. extract was showed the scavenging activity of radicals and reactive oxygen species with the $IC_{50}$ values of $4.50\;{\mu}m/ml$ against 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazly radical and $542.43\;{mu}m/ml$ against superoxide radicals in the xanthine/xanthine oxidase system, respectively. The type I procollagen was increased 33.76% by treatment with matairesinol-rich Forsythia viridissima L. extract, and UVA-induced MMP-1 was reduced 35.78% in a dose dependent manner. In the human skin irritation test, 2% matairesinol-rich Forsythia viridissima L. extract did not show any adverse effect. Also, the clinical study indicated that a cream group treated with 0.2% matairesinol-rich Forsythia viridissima L. extract significantly reduced skin wrinkles, as compared with a non-treated cream group (p < 0.05). These results suggest that Forsythia viridissima L. extract may be useful as a potential source of functional anti-aging cosmetics.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.33 no.1
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• pp.16-21
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• 2004

To assess the estrogenicities of Korean arrowroot (Pueraria thunbergiana) the contents of nine phytochemicals which are known to present were analyzed by HPLC. Also the estrogenecities of these phytochemicals were assayed using estrogen receptor dependent transcriptional expression assay. Daidzein and puerarin are major compounds in arrowroot, which were contained in the order of: root>stem>leaf>flower>seed. Among the assayed phytochemicals daidzein, genistein, biochanin A, formononetin, puerarin and genistin were highly estrogenic. The total estrogenicities in different parts of arrowroot and those by regions in Korea were also assessed. Roots had the highest estrogenic effects. The estrogenicities also were shown in stem and leaf. The differences in the estrogenicities of arrowroots by regions in Korea were shown. These results demonstrated that the estrogenic phytochemicals content was the highest in Korean arrowroot and also present in stem and leaf.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.18 no.9
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• pp.1257-1262
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• 2008

Photodynamic therapy (PDT) is a treatment utilizing the generation of singlet oxygen and other reactive oxygen species (ROS), which selectively accumulated in target cells. Genistein, soy-derived phytoestrogen, is one of the anticancer agents found in soybean. In the current study, we investigated the effect of photofrin-induced PDT and genistein on apoptotic cell death in head and neck cell line (AMC-HN3) to confirm the photodynamic therapy of genistein. It was determined by MTT assay that the combination group had more cytotoxicity effect than PDT group alone. Combination of photofrin PDT and genistein induced apoptosis more when comparing with PDT alone. Our data also showed that ROS was increased in combination therapy, indicating apoptosis by mitochondrial damage. These results indicated that the combination of photofrin PDT and genistein showed more cytotoxic effect and induced apoptosis in head and neck cancer cell line.

• The Korean Journal of Food And Nutrition
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.119-125
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• 2002

Phytoestrogens are non-steroidal compounds fecund In a variety of plants, which exert estrogenic effects in animals. In this study, the physico-chemical properties of Iranian black pomegranate extract and its products as preliminarily research for the developing of natural estrogen supplement were evaluated. The chemical components of Iranian black pomegranate extracts and its product (Forever 120) were analyzed. Proximate compositions of pomegranate extracts were as follows; crude lipid 0.4%, crude protein 0.9%, crude ash 1.4% and carbohydrate 42.0%. Major amino acids of pomegranate extracts are glutamic acid (1310.0ppm), aspartic acid (896.2ppm), arginine (877.7ppm) and phenylalanine (57.5ppm). Fatty acid compositions of pomegranate extract 1ibid extracted by chloroform-methanol (2:1) were myristic (13.1%), stearic (69.4), oleic acid (6.8%) and palmitic acid (8.3%). Mineral elements were ferrous (6640.0ppm) and potassium (2550.8ppm). Vitamins were composed of ascorbic acid(20.0mg/100g), Vit. B$_1$(0.12mg/100g) and niacin (0.80mg/100g). 20 phytoestrogens and 20 estrogens of pomegranate extracts were detected Daidzein (0.29ppm), quercetin (9.75ppm) genistein (0.29ppm) and 17 $\beta$ -estradiol(0.15ppm). Above the chemical components of pomegranate extracts were compared with that of pomegranate its product or other isoflavon concentrates.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.183-188
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• 2008

Osteoporosis is one of the major health problem affecting postmenopausal women. Estrogen deficiency results in an increase in bone turnover, lead to bone resorption and an increase risk of fracture. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of Platycodon grandiflorum A. extract (PG) in bone metabolism in ovariectomized estrogen-deficient rats. Two groups were surgically ovariectomized (OVX). The third group was sham operated. Sprague-Dawley female rats were randomly assigned to the following groups : sham-operated rats (Sham), ovariectomized control rats (OVX-control), ovariectomized rats supplemented with PG at 50mg/kg body wt (OVX-PG50) The Platycodon grandiflorum extracts were orally administrated at 1mL per day. The ovariectomy caused a decreasing in the levels of collagen content in bone, cartilage and skin tissues. However PG group, supplementation with Platycodon grandiflorum extract, were increased the level of collagen content in bone, cartilage and skin tissues than OVX-control group. PG group had a higher content of pyridinoline in collagen than OVX-control group. Alkaline phosphatase activity on serum were decreased after supplemented with the PG extract. These results might be expected that Platycodon grandiflorum is believed to be possible protective effects in postmenopausal bone loss.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.21 no.11
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• pp.1549-1557
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• 2011

Tumor necrosis factor-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL) can selectively induce apoptosis in many types of transformed cells; however, some human hepatocellular carcinoma cells are particularly resistant to the effects of TRAIL. Although genistein, a natural isoflavonoid phytoestrogen, has been shown to have pro-apoptotic activity against human cancer cell lines, little is known about the mechanism of genistein in terms of TRAIL-induced apoptosis. In the present study, it was investigated whether or not combined treatment with genistein and TRAIL synergistically induced apoptosis in Hep3B hepatocarcinoma cells. Results indicate that treatment with TRAIL in combination with nontoxic concentrations of genistein sensitized TRAIL-resistant Hep3B cells to TRAIL-induced apoptosis, which was associated with mitochondrial dysfunction. Further, the inhibition of p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) activation markedly decreased genistein and TRAIL-induced cell viability and apoptosis by enhanced truncation of Bid, increase of pro-apoptotic Bax, decrease of anti-apoptotic Bcl-2, and release of cytochrome c from mitochondria to cytoplasm. Activation of caspases and degradation of poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase induced by the combined treatment was also markedly increased by the inhibition of p38 MAPK, through the mitochondrial amplification step. In conclusion, our data suggest that genistein sensitizes TRAIL-induced-apoptosis via p38 MAPK-dependent pathway.