• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
• /
• v.52 no.1
• /
• pp.111-118
• /
• 2009

Puopose : Exposure to dietary phytoestrogens such as genistein during early childhood is a growing public health concern. We examined the effect of early exposure to genistein on sexual maturation in immature rats. Methods : Weaning (3wk-old) Sprague-Dawley female rats were assigned to three groups (n=6 for each): fed by high dose of genistein (100 mg/kg/d), low dose of genistein (10 mg/kg/d) and control group. First vaginal opening (VO) day was observed. Structural alterations in the ovary and uterus were assessed by histologically. Expression of genes of $ER{\alpha}$, $ER{\beta}$, and progesterone receptor (PR) in the ovary and uterus were investigated by RT-PCR. Results : High genistein group had earlier VO than control and low genistein group. Graafian follicles and corpora lutea were observed from the ovary of genistein-treated groups, while primary, secondary follicles and small atretic follicles were observed in the control group. Hypertrophy of luminal and glandular uterine epithelia were found in the genistein-treated groups while poor development of gland and fewer myometrial cell layers were evident in control group. In ovary, the transcriptional activities of $ER{\alpha}$ and $ER{\beta}$ were higher in high genistein group than in controls. In uterus, the transcriptional activities of $ER{\alpha}$, $ER{\beta}$ and PR were higher in low genistein group than in controls. Conclusion : Acute exposure to genistein during the prepubertal period could activate the reproductive endocrine system resulting in the early onset of puberty in female rats. Further clinical investigation on the effect of genistein on the sexual maturation in children is warranted.

• Korean Journal of Poultry Science
• /
• v.33 no.3
• /
• pp.211-215
• /
• 2006

This study was carried out to determine whether genistein implants in laying hens could be transferred into their eggs. 250 mg genistein pellet was implanted two or four subcutaneously in the neck of laying hens. The contents of genistein in egg yolk transferred were analyzed with HPLC-MS. In 500 mg genistein pellets, it was detected as 395 ng/egg yolk on the day 18 after implanting and maintained as 546 ng/egg yolk after the day 59. In 1,000 mg, genistein was detected as 240 ng/egg yolk on the day 13, as 514 ng/egg yolk on the day 30 and maintained over 59 days. In conclusion, the direct genistein implants could be more twenty times efficiently transferred to egg yolks than dietary supplement.

• Preventive Nutrition and Food Science
• /
• v.12 no.4
• /
• pp.197-201
• /
• 2007

Genistein is an active component of legumes and other related food shown to be associated with prevention of degenerative diseases such as cancer through inducing signaling pathways. Treatment of genistein resulted in the induction of apoptosis in the cultured cancer cells. This induction of apoptosis was demonstrated by the Tunel assay in these cells. Unveiling the potential of genistein in cytotoxicity via apoptosis when it is treated with estrogen can predict the therapeutic capability of genistein in breast cancers in the presence of endogenous estrogen. We have found that apoptosis induced by genistein treatment in the presence of estrogen is agonistic or antagonistic depending on the concentrations and treatment periods applied in MCF-7 breast cancer cells. For the suppression of cell survival, 24 hr of treatment was required to induce a synergistic agonistic response between estrogen and genistein at low concentrations of genistein. After this period, the agonistic pattern of genistein to estrogen disappeared. The decrement of COX-2 expression in MCF-7 cells treated with genistein was accompanied with the activation of AMPK only at a high concentration of genistein. This association between AMPK activation and down-regulation of COX-2 by genistein was dampened in the presence of estrogen. It was also demonstrated that genistein and estrogen regulate cell survival and apoptosis by modulating p53 and caspase-3 in the opposite direction. These results suggest that genistein has the potential to control breast cancer development, and co-treatment with estrogen can cause agonistic or antagonistic action on breast cancer cell control.

• The Korean Journal of Pharmacology
• /
• v.31 no.1 s.57
• /
• pp.115-122
• /
• 1995

Effects of staurosporine, genistein and pertussis toxin on superoxide and HOCl production in C5a- or PMA-activated neutrophils were investigated. A C5a-induced superoxide and $H_2O_2$ production was inhibited by staurosporine, genistein and pertussis toxin. The stimulatory effect of PMA was inhibited by staurosporine but was not affected by pertussis toxin, whereas it was further promoted by genistein. Staurosporine and genistein inhibited superoxide production by sodium fluoride, but pertussis toxin did not affect it. PMA-induced $H_2O_2$ production was inhibited by staurosporine but was not affected by pertussis toxin. Genistein did not show a stimulatory effect on PMA-induced $H_2O_2$ production. Staurosporine and pertussis toxin inhibited HOCl production by C5a- or PMA, whereas genistein stimulated it. C5a-or PMA-induced myeloperoxidase release was inhibited by genistein, in this response the effect of pertussis toxin was not detected. Staurosporine did not affect the stimulatory effect of PMA on the release. Myeloperoxidase activity was markedly increased by genistein but was not affected by staurosporine and pertussis toxin. These results indicate that the respiratory burst of neutrophils may be regulated by protein kinase C and protein tyrosine kinase. Superoxide production induced by the direct activation of protein kinase C might be affected by protein tyrosine kinase oppositely. Genistein probably pro-motes HOCl production by activating myeloperoxidase.

• Journal of Environmental Science International
• /
• v.8 no.5
• /
• pp.569-574
• /
• 1999

This study was carried out to determine the antimutagenic effects of genistein on the somatic mutagenicity induced by aflatoxin B1 (${AFB}_1$), using Drosophila wing spot test system. Mutagen alone or mutagen with genistein were administered to the heterozygous(mwh/+) third instar larvae by feeding, and somatic cell mutations were detected in adult fly wing hairs. Genistein did not show any mutagenicity with the feeding concentrations of 5~15% in the test system. As the feeding concentrations of genistein increased, genistein inhibited the mutagenicity induced by AFB1 (14.6%~62.2% inhibition rate), while as the concentrations of AFB1 increased, small much spots that arise mostly from chromosome deletion and nondisjunction were more strongly suppressed by genistein than the large mwh spots from chromosomal recombination. In each group of different AFB1 concentrations, the rate of inhibition for total mwh spots was dependent on the dose of genistein. These results indicate that genistein have inhibitory effect on the mutagenicity induced by a mtagen, ${AFB}_1$. It seems to suggest that genistein may exert inhibitory effects to mutagenic and/or carcinogenic properties of DNA damaging agents.

• YAKHAK HOEJI
• /
• v.51 no.1
• /
• pp.75-82
• /
• 2007

Reactive oxygen species (ROS) are produced in the metabolic process of oxygen in cells. The superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) in cells systemize the antioxidant enzymes to control the oxidative stress. Genistein is one of the isoflavonoids, and its role in controlling cellular oxidative stress is presently the active issue at question. In this study; we analyzed genistein-induced survival rates of the CHO-K1 cells, activities of antioxidant enzymes, ROS levels, and expression levels of antioxidant enzyme genes in order to investigate the effect of genistein on cellular ROS production and antioxidative systems in CHO-K1 cells. As results, the survival rate of cells was decreased as the dose of genistein increases (12.5${\sim}$200 ${\mu}$M). Genistein increased cellular ROS levels, while it reduced total SOD activities and the expression of CuZnSOD. In conclusion, we suggest that genistein may induce oxidative stress via down-regulation of SOD.

• BMB Reports
• /
• v.57 no.3
• /
• pp.143-148
• /
• 2024

Pulmonary fibrosis is a serious lung disease that occurs predominantly in men. Genistein is an important natural soybean-derived phytoestrogen that affects various biological functions, such as cell migration and fibrosis. However, the antifibrotic effects of genistein on pulmonary fibrosis are largely unknown. The antifibrotic effects of genistein were evaluated using in vitro and in vivo models of lung fibrosis. Proteomic data were analyzed using nano-LC-ESI-MS/MS. Genistein significantly reduced transforming growth factor (TGF)-β1-induced expression of collagen type I and α-smooth muscle actin (SMA) in MRC-5 cells and primary fibroblasts from patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF). Genistein also reduced TGF-β1-induced expression of p-Smad2/3 and p-p38 MAPK in fibroblast models. Comprehensive protein analysis confirmed that genistein exerted an anti-fibrotic effect by regulating various molecular mechanisms, such as unfolded protein response, epithelial mesenchymal transition (EMT), mammalian target of rapamycin complex 1 (mTORC1) signaling, cell death, and several metabolic pathways. Genistein was also found to decrease hydroxyproline levels in the lungs of BLM-treated mice. Genistein exerted an anti-fibrotic effect by preventing fibroblast activation, suggesting that genistein could be developed as a pharmacological agent for the prevention and treatment of pulmonary fibrosis.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
• /
• v.38 no.5
• /
• pp.335-343
• /
• 2005

Rodent models have been used to study the anticarcinogenic properties of the soy isoflavones, particularly genistein, but there is little information regarding the pharmacokinetics of the absorption and excretion of genistein. In this study, rats were given a single oral dose of genistein (20 mg/kg body wt) or an equivalent dose as Myougjoonamul-kong and Myoungjoonamul soy sprouts. Concentrations of genistein were measured in plasma, urine and feces at intervals up to 48hr after dosing. Maximum peak of plasma genistein concentration is 8 hr after dosing, and its concentration is 13.2, 7.4mol/L in soy and soy sprout-treated rats, respectively. In pure genistein treated rats, maximum peak of plasma genistein concentration is 2hr after dosing (5.7 mol/L). The percentage of dose recovered in urine over 48hr was not different between groups ($21.2\%$ soy treated; $18.2\%$ soy sprout treated; $16.1\%$ pure genistein treated). There were no significant differences between groups in the recovery of genistein in feces ($19.5\%,\;7.5\%\;and\;15.7\%$ of doses, respectively). $6.9\%\;and\;6.07\%$ of the daidzein from the soy and soy sprout treated was recovered in the feces.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
• /
• v.39 no.2
• /
• pp.100-108
• /
• 2006

This study was conducted to investigate whether dietary factors, normal fat and genistein leads to beneficial improvement of lipid metabolism and oxidative stress in adult hyperlipidemic male rats. Seven wk-old male SD rats were fed high fat diet (15% fat, 1% cholesterol) for 4 wks for induction of hyperlipidemic model rat. Weight-matched rats were then assigned to four groups according to dietary fat level (7% or 15% fat) and genistein contents (0 or 320 mg/kg diet). Food intake was significantly decreased by both high fat intake and genistein supplementation compared with normal fat intake and genistein no supplementaion. But weight gain was significantly decreased by genistein supplementation in normal fat intake compared with the other groups. Total lipid, total cholesterol and triglyceride in serum and liver were significantly decreased by normal fat intake compared with high fat intake. But total cholesterol in liver was significantly increased by genistein supplementation in both high fat and normal fat intake. TBARS in serum and liver was less produced by normal fat intake compared with high fat intake but TBARS in liver was significantly increased by genistein supplementation compared with genistein no supplementation in normal fat intake. Glutathione reductase activity in erythrocytes was significantly reduced by genistein supplementation in normal fat intake compared with the other groups. Glutathione peroxidase and glutathione reductase activities in liver were significantly inhibited by normal fat intake compared with high fat intake. Catalase activity in liver was significantly increased by genistein supplementation compared with genistein no supplementation in high fat intake. Nitrite was significantly decreased by normal fat intake compared with high fat intake. These results suggest that normal fat intake has the treatment effect against risk factors related with cardiovascular disease by reducing lipid profiles, lipid peroxidation. And genistein shows action as a antioxidant replacing antioxidant enzymes but also may act as prooxidant causing the production of TBARS.

• Journal of Life Science
• /
• v.22 no.1
• /
• pp.49-54
• /
• 2012

The effects of genistein on cell proliferation and adipogenesis were examined in mouse 3T3-L1 preadipocyte cells. Genistein decreased viability of 3T3-L1 pre-adipocytes in a dose-dependent manner. Oil Red O staining of these cells also indicated that adipogenesis was inhibited by 50 ${\mu}M$ genistein treatment. We investigated the molecular mechanisms involved in the decrease in cell viability in genistein-treated 3T3-L1 cells by conducting an oligo DNA microarray analysis. We selected the sirtuin-1 gene, one of the upregulated genes, for further experimentation because sirtuin-1 belongs to the sirtuin family, which is associated with anti-obesity and anti-inflammation activities. We found that four phytochemicals (resveratrol, capsaicin, daidzein, and genistein) could increase sirtuin-1 expression. Genistein was the strongest inducer of sirtuin-1 among the tested phytochemicals. The inhibition of adipogenesis by genistein was recovered by surtuin-1 siRNA transfection. Overall, these results may further our understanding of the molecular mechanisms underlying the inhibition of proliferation and adipogenesis by genistein in mouse 3T3-L1 cells.