• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.30 no.5
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• pp.770-776
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• 2020

Genistein is a type of isoflavonoid found predominantly in leguminous plants. Genistein has diverse biological activities, such as anthelmintic and antioxidant effects, as well as inhibitory effects on the growth of several cancers. In addition, genistein is well known as a phytoestrogen. In this study, we attempted to biologically synthesize genistein from either p-coumaric acid or naringenin using Escherichia coli as a biotransformation host. Four genes, Os4CL, PeCHS, RcIFS, and OsCPR, were used for genistein production. To functionally express RcIFS and OsCPR, two members of the cytochrome P450 family, in E. coli, the membrane-binding anchor domain of each gene was removed, and RcIFS and OsCPR were translationally fused to generate an RcIFS-OsCPR hybrid. Os4CL and PeCHS, or the RcIFS-OsCPR hybrid, were then transformed into E. coli BL21(DE3). Using these strains, we optimized our culture system at a laboratory scale in terms of the cell density, concentrations of substrate and isopropyl-β-D-thiogalactoside, temperature, and culture medium. Under the optimized culture conditions, genistein was produced at up to 35 mg/l and 18.6 mg/l using naringenin and p-coumaric acid, respectively.

• Archives of Pharmacal Research
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• v.28 no.5
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• pp.566-572
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• 2005

The aim of this study was to determine if the isoflavones from Sophorae fructus (SISO) have potential clinical benefit in hormone replacement therapy (HRT) for the treat ment of menopausal signs, such as the levels of total cholesterol (TC), high density lipoprotein (HDL), low density lipoprotein (LDL) and follicle stimulating hormone (FSH). An additional aim was to present the potential antioxidant effect of SISO in a microglial cell line. For the animal model, the ovaries were removed from adult rats and the indicators of menopause were measured at the pre- and post-administration time points. Although no statistically significant correlation was found, SISO tended to decrease the TC level (p=0.15) and the FSH level (p=0.36), but to increase the HDL level (p=0.303).SISO (< 5${\mu}g$/mL) also exerted antioxidant activity on BV-2 microglial cells by inhibiting lipopolysaccharide-induced nitric oxide. This cytoprotective effect was confirmed by trypan blue staining, which was used to test for cellular damage from H$_2O_2$. In conclusion, this study highlights the anti-menopausal and antioxidant effect of SISO in an ovariectomized rat model, as well as in microglial cells, and provides new clinical targets for the screening of phytoestrogens as potential candidates for HRT in menopausal women.

• Archives of Pharmacal Research
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• v.29 no.1
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• pp.96-101
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• 2006

Phytoestrogens have been used as a food supplement to prevent osteoporosis. The isoflavones in the phytoestrogens are daidzein, genistein and formononetin which are present in various herbs. This study examined the quantity of isoflavones in medicinal herbs, which can be used as a phytoestrogen supplement; soybean. These isoflavones were quantified using high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) with a UV/VIS detector. The concentration of daidzein in Puerariae Radix was $10,436.16{\pm}2,143.83\;mg/kg$ of the dried herb, which was much higher than that extracted from soybeans, $341.47{\pm}18.96\;mg/kg$. The amount of genistein in Sophorae flavescentis Radix ($336.09{\pm}50.89mg/kg$) was approximately 11 times higher than that extracted from soybean ($30.03{\pm}7.17mg/kg$). The level of formononetin in Dalbergiae odoriferae Lignum, $2,189.14{\pm}136.46mg/kg$, was the highest among the herbs tested. The total isoflavone content of Puerariae Radix was approximately 30 times higher than that extracted from soybean. Therefore, plants from the family Leguminosae, particularly Puerariae Radix, can be a good source of phytoestrogens.

• Journal of the East Asian Society of Dietary Life
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• v.16 no.5
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• pp.533-541
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• 2006

The purpose of this study was to investigate the relation between climacteric symptoms and intakes of various nutrients, phytoestrogens and foods in postmenopausal women. We conducted anthropometric measurements, questionnaire interview and 24hr dietary recall for 3 days in 128 postmenopausal women aged $49{\sim}64$. The subjects were divided into the two groups, NCMS(non climacteric symptoms group) and CMS(climacteric symptoms group), according to the severity of the climacteric symptoms. There were no significant difference in anthropometric measurements, maternal factors(menarche age, menopause age), subjective health status, frequency of exercise, smoking and drinking status between the two groups. The Mg and lignan precusor intakes of the NCMS group were significantly higher than those of the CMS group. Mg, lignan precusor, pulse and seed intakes had negative correlations with the severity of climacteric symptoms. From this study results, Mg, phytoestrogen(especially some lignan) and some food groups like as pulse and seeds may prevent and reduce climacteric symptoms in postmenopausal women.

• Journal of the FoodService Safety
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• v.3 no.1
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• pp.1-7
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• 2022

As one of the post-COVID-19 response strategies, representative processed products derived from the natural plant material flaxseed and a dietary supplement fortified with female hormones (estrogens) were developed in Canada, an eco-friendly country was introduced. These products were: 1) flaxseed oil to help maintain cognitive and immune function, 2) Lignan50, a substance with effects similar to estrogen, a female hormone, 3) XanFlax, a thickener for confectionery/baking and egg substitute, 4) MediFlax, a constipation reliever, 5) SesaFlax, which has a fragrance similar to sesame, 6) Linusorb, which is effective for its pharmaceutical anti-inflammatory/anti-oxidation and anti-aging properties, and 7) LinuLyte, a water/electrolyte supplement containing high dietary fiber. It is expected that these dietary products will help maintain and promote health as part of a response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

• Proceedings of the SCSK Conference
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• 2003.09a
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• pp.73-84
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• 2003

Skin aging process on pre-menopausal women is a problem that needs to be prevented as early as possible. The decrease of oestrogen level which is one of the intrinsic factors of the skin aging process will affect the skin biological process, due to oestrogen receptors on the skin. A number of researches conducted on pre-menopausal women with the allocation of oestrogen hormone resulted in delaying the skin aging process. The administration of soy isoflavon, a phytoestrogen found in daily food, on pre-menopausal women is hoped to be able to prevent skin aging process, even clinically or molecular biologically. This research aims to explain the benefit of administering of soy isoflavon on skin aging process. The design of the research is randomised controlled trial (RCT). As many as 60 pre-menopausal women were collected with simple random sampling method. Soy isoflavon is an independent variable, while skin aging process is a dependent variable assessed from the hydration, sebum level, average roughness, depth of wrinkles, skin clarity, length of the telomere. Analysis was conducted using t and MANDVA tests and.the result showed a significance (F = 10,439; p = 0,001) over the allocation of soy isoflavon to the whole variable dependent, including the telomere length and the skin hydration, meant that allocation of soy isoflavon could delay skin aging process.

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

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.77-83
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• 2015

The seed of Vigna angularis has long been cultivated as a food or a folk medicine in East Asia. Genistein (4',5,7-trihydroxyisoflavone), a dietary phytoestrogen present in this plant, has been known to possess various biological properties. In this study, we investigated the possible lifespan-extending effects of genistein using Caenorhabditis elegans model system. We found that the lifespan of nematode was significantly prolonged in the presence of genistein under normal culture condition. In addition, genistein elevated the survival rate of nematode against stressful environment including heat and oxidative conditions. Further studies demonstrated that genistein-mediated increased stress tolerance of nematode could be attributed to enhanced expressions of stress resistance proteins such as superoxide dismutase (SOD-3) and heat shock protein (HSP-16.2). Moreover, we failed to find genistein-induced significant change in aging-related factors including reproduction, food intake, and growth, indicating genistein exerts longevity activity independent of affecting these factors. Genistein treatment also led to an up-regulation of locomotory ability of aged nematode, suggesting genistein affects healthspan as well as lifespan of nematode. Our results represent that genistein has beneficial effects on the lifespan of C. elegans under both of normal and stress condition via elevating expressions of stress resistance proteins.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.17 no.4
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• pp.430-437
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• 2009

Metabolites of Soyasaponin I, a major constituent of soybean, by human intestinal microflora were investigated by LC-MS/MS analysis. We found four peaks, one parental constituent and three metabolites: m/z 941 [M-H]$^-$, m/z 795 [M-rha-H]$^-$, m/z 441 [aglycone-$H_2O$+H]$^+$, and m/z 633 [M-rha-gal-H]$^-$, which was an unknown metabolite, soyasapogenol B 3-$\beta$-D-glucuronide. When soyasaponin I was incubated with the human fecal microbial fraction from ten individuals for 48 h, soyasaponin I was metabolized to soyasapogenol B via soyasaponin III and soyasapogenol B 3-$\beta$-D-glucuronide or via soyasaponin III alone. Both soyasaponin I and its metabolite soyasapgenol B exhibited estrogenic activity. Soyasaponin I increased the proliferation, mRNA expression of c-fos and pS2, in MCF7 cells more potently than soyasapogenol B. However, soyasapogenol B showed potent cytotoxicity against A549, MCF7, HeLa and HepG2 cells, while soyasaponin I did not. The cytotoxicity of soyasapogenol B may prevent its estrogenic effect from increasing dose-dependently. These findings suggest that orally administered soyasaponin I may be metabolized to soyasapogenol B by intestinal microflora and that soyasapogenol B may express a cytotoxic effect rather than an estrogenic effect.

• Toxicological Research
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.135-142
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• 2007

Formononetin is an isoflavonoid phytoestrogen found in certain foodstuffs such as soy and red clover. In this study, we examined the action of formononetin with the carcinogen activation pathway mediated through the aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) in MCF-7 breast carcinoma cells. Treating the cells with formononetin alone caused the accumulation of CYP1A1 mRNA as well as elevation in CYP1A1-specific 7-ethoxyresorufin O-deethylase (EROD) activity in a dose dependent manner. However, a concomitant treatment with 7,12-dimethylbenz[a]anthracene (DMBA) and formononetin markedly reduced both the DMBA-inducible EROD activity and CYP1A1 mRNA level. Under the same conditions, formononetin inhibited the DMBA-induced AhR transactivation, as shown by reporter gene analysis using a xenobiotic responsive element (XRE). Additionally, formononetin inhibited both DMBA-inducible nuclear localization of the aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) and metabolic activation of DMBA, as measured by the formation of the DMBA-DNA adducts. Furthermore, formononetin competed with the prototypical AhR ligand, 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD), for binding to the AhR in an isolated rat cytosol. These results suggest that formononetin might be considered as a natural ligand to bind on AhR and consequently produces a potent protective effect against DMBA-induced genotoxicity. Therefore, that's the potential to act as a chemopreventive agent that is related to its effect on AhR pathway as antagonist/agonist.