PURPOSE: It has been postulated that soybean isoflavones act as inhibitory factors in several cancers. Recently, various in vitro and in vivo experimental studies have demonstrated that these isoflavones inhibit prostate cancer. Therefore, we investigated whether soybean isoflavones influenced the development of prostate cancer by comparing the levels of circulating isoflavones between prostate cancer patients and controls. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The serum levels of genistein, daidzein and equol were determined using reverse-phase, high-performance liquid chromatography-multiple reaction ion monitoring mass spectrometry(HPLC-MS) and compared in 122 experimental subjects(61 prostate cancer patients and 61 cancer-free controls) from 6 hospitals. RESULTS: The serum concentrations of genistein, daidzein and equol in the patients were 130.7+/-181.4ng/ml, 53.6+/-69.3ng/ml and 11.37+/-43.4ng/ml, with control values of 95.6+/-95.2ng/ml, 55.2+/-121.8ng/ml and 23.2+/-34.5ng/ml, respectively. There was no statistical difference between the 2 groups. Daidzein non-metabolizers who were unable to degrade daidzein into equol were compared between the patients and the controls, and were found to be significantly more common in the patient group (p=0.001, OR=3.44, 95% CI=1.6243-7.2855). However, the equol/daidzein ratio was significantly lower in the patients than in the controls(p=0.0072). No association between age, stage, Gleason score or isoflavone concentrations was found. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that the capability to produce equol (i.e., the mechanism for the metabolism of daidzein into equol) is closely involved in the lower incidence of prostate cancer, and that a diet based on soybean isoflavones would be useful in preventing prostate cancer.
Diet ; Equol ; Genistein ; Humans ; Incidence ; Isoflavones ; Metabolism ; Neoplasm Grading ; Prostate* ; Prostatic Neoplasms* ; Soybeans*

PURPOSE: Recent studies have suggested that isoflavones have an inverse correlation with the risk of prostate cancer. In addition, the serum isoflavones levels are thought to be decided not only by the level of intake of isoflavones, but also by the metabolic processes or the genetic abilities required for ingestion of isoflavones. So, we conducted this study to determine the effects of dietary habits on the serum isoflavones levels. MATERIALS AND METHODS: One hundred age- and community-matched healthy men between the ages of 10 and 59 years were interviewed using a food frequency questionnaire that was developed and validated for Korean populations. The individuals' dietary habits during the previous one-year period and the foods they ingested during the previous one-week period before blood sampling were assessed. The serum concentrations of isoflavones were analyzed by the reversed-phase high performance liquid chromatography-multiple reaction ion monitoring-mass spectrometry method (HPLC-MS), (SRL Co. Tokyo, Japan). RESULTS: The genistein and daidzein levels were significantly correlated with age (p=0.026 and p=0.016, respectively), but the equol level was not (p=0.091). The foods associated with the genistein level were unmilled rice, beans, garlic and etc. The foods significantly related to the daidzein level were unmilled rice, garlic and etc. Of the foods ingested during the previous one-week period, fermented soybean soup, garlic, strawberries and mung-bean pancakes were associated with the equol level. CONCLUSIONS: The genistein and daidzein levels were associated with usual dietary habits, but the equol level was related to the short-period food consumption. Changes in dietary habit might induce significant changes in the genistein and daidzein levels.
Eating ; Equol ; Fabaceae ; Food Habits* ; Fragaria ; Garlic ; Genistein ; Humans ; Isoflavones* ; Male ; Metabolism ; Prostatic Neoplasms ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Soybeans ; Spectrum Analysis

PURPOSE: Isoflavones are rich in soybean and are known to affect bone formation. This study examined the effects and modes of action of isoflavones on the differentiation of C2C12 myoblasts in the presence of the bone morphogenetic protein (BMP)-4. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The isoflavones, daidzein, genistein or equol, and/or BMP-4 were added alone or in combination to C2C12 myoblasts. After 72 hours culture, the cells were stained for the early osteoblastic differentiation marker, alkaline phosphatase (ALP). The ALP activity was determined by comparing the color of the stained images as well as by spectrophotometry. The expression profiles of the extracellular matrix (ECM) genes responsible for the extensive remodeling at the cell surface were analyzed using agene expression microarray after treating thesamples with daidzein. RESULTS: ALP staining of BMP-4 or the isoflavones-treated cells showed that BMP-4 increased the activity of ALP in a dose dependent manner, whereas the isoflavones alone did not induced any remarkable increase. However, the ALP activity increased when the cells were treated with BMP-4 and any of the three isoflavones. The macrogen mouse MAC array data showed that the ECM genes, Mmp13 and Mmp3, were up-regulated by daidzein, whereas Col4a2, Col5a1 and Mmp9 were down-regulated. CONCLUSION: Isoflavones induce osteoblastic differentiation when combined with BMP-4, which is possibly achieved by modulating the expressional levels of various ECM genes.
Alkaline Phosphatase ; Animals ; Bone Morphogenetic Proteins ; Equol ; Extracellular Matrix ; Genistein ; Isoflavones* ; Mice ; Myoblasts* ; Osteoblasts ; Osteogenesis ; Soybeans ; Spectrophotometry

Pueraria thomsonii has long been used in traditional Chinese medicine. Isoflavonoids are the principle pharmacologically active components, which are primarily observed as glycosyl-conjugates and accumulate in P. thomsonii roots. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying the glycosylation processes in (iso)flavonoid biosynthesis have not been thoroughly elucidated. In the current study, an O-glucosyltransferase (PtUGT8) was identified in the medicinal plant P. thomsonii from RNA-seq database. Biochemical assays of the recombinant PtUGT8 showed that it was able to glycosylate chalcone (isoliquiritigenin) at the 4-OH position and glycosylate isoflavones (daidzein, formononetin, and genistein) at the 7-OH or 4'-OH position, exhibiting no enzyme activity to flavonones (liquiritigenin and narigenin) in vitro. The identification of PtUGT8 may provide a useful enzyme catalyst for efficient biotransformation of isoflavones and other natural products for food or pharmacological applications.
Cloning, Molecular ; Genistein ; Glucosyltransferases/metabolism* ; Isoflavones/pharmacology* ; Pueraria/chemistry*

OBJECTIVETo study the chemical constituents of the whole plant Caragana spinifera.

METHODThe chemical constituents were isolated and repeatedly purified on silica gel column. The structures were elucidated by the NMR spectra and physico-chemical properties.

RESULTSix compounds were isolated and identified as (6aR, 11aR) 4,9-dimethoxy-3-hydroxypterocarpan, (6aR,11aR)-4, 9-dihydroxy-3- methoxypterocarpan (melilotocarpane B), 5, 4'-dihydroxy-7-methoxyisoflavone, 7-hydroxy4'-methoxyisoflavone, 6, 7-dihydroxy4'-methoxyisoflavone, beta-sitosterol respectively.

CONCLUSIONAll compounds were isolated from the plant for the first time.

Caragana ; chemistry ; Crystallography, X-Ray ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; Isoflavones ; analysis ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy ; Pterocarpans ; analysis ; chemistry ; isolation & purification

OBJECTIVETo investigate the isoflavones from the vines of Pueraria lobata.

METHODThe compounds were isolated by column chromatography over silica gel and RP-C18, and purified by Sephadex LH-20 column chromatography and preparative TLC. The structures were elucidated on the basis of physico-chemical properties and spectral data.

RESULTTwelve compounds were isolated and identified as: 3'-methoxydaidzein (1), formononetin (2), genistein (3), daidzein (4), daidzin (5), genistin (6), ononin (7), 5-hydroxyl ononin (8), calycosin (9), 6"-O-acetyl genistein (10), 6"-O-acetyl daidzin (11), puerarin (12).

CONCLUSIONFor the first time, compounds 9-11 were isolated from the genus Pueraria plant, and compounds 1, 3, 6-8 were obtained from the vines of this plant.

Genistein ; chemistry ; Glucosides ; chemistry ; Isoflavones ; chemistry ; Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy ; Plant Stems ; chemistry ; Pueraria ; chemistry

OBJECTIVETo study the chemical constituents of the flavonoids from Sophora tonkinensis.

METHODThe compounds were isolated by chromatography on silica gel, Sephadex LH-20 column and identified by spectroscopic analysis.

RESULTEight compounds were isolated and their structures were identified as tonkinochromane I (1), glabrol (3), lupinifolin (2), tonkinensisol (4), 8-C-prenylkaempferol (5), 7,2'-dihydroxy-4'-methoxy-isoflavanol (6), formononetin (7), and genistein (8), respectively.

CONCLUSIONCompound 1 was a new compound. And compound 6 was firstly isolated from the genus Sophora. Compounds 2, 3 and 5 were isolated from S. tonkinensis for the first time.

Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; Flavonoids ; analysis ; chemistry ; Genistein ; analysis ; Isoflavones ; analysis ; Rhizome ; chemistry ; Sophora ; chemistry

BACKGROUND: Genistein and daidzein are two major soybean isoflavones. They have received increasing attention because of their possible roles for cancer prevention. However, their mechanisms of action and molecular targets on the human colon cancer cells are not fully understood. METHODS: Human colon cancer HCT-116 cells were treated with genistein and daidzein to investigate their effects on the cell growth and this was analyzed with MTT assay. TUNEL assay and Hoechst33342 stain were carried out to identify apotosis. RESULTS: Daidzein was able to inhibit cell proliferation and induce apoptosis of the HCT-116 cells, but genistein didn't affect the cell growth. The ER antagonist ICI182780 didn't attenuate the antiproliferative and proapoptotic effects of daidzein: this means the effect of daidzein on the HCT-116 cells may not be dependent on the ER pathway. The other soybean isoflavone, genistein, attenuated the effects of daidzein on the HCT-116 cells and its mechanism should be elucidated. CONCLUSIONS: These data suggest that daidzein may act as a preventive agent on human colon cancer, and its mechanism of action doesn't involve the ER-dependent pathway.
Apoptosis ; Cell Proliferation ; Colon* ; Colonic Neoplasms* ; Genistein* ; HCT116 Cells* ; Humans* ; In Situ Nick-End Labeling ; Isoflavones ; Soybeans

OBJECTIVETo study the chemical constituents from the vine stems of isoflavones of Millettia nitita var. hirsutissima.

METHODChromatographic methods were used to isolate compounds, and spectroscopic methods were used to elucidate the structures.

RESULTFour isoflavones were isolated and identified: 3'-O-methylorobol (1), genistein (2), biochanin A (3), afromosin (4).

CONCLUSIONAll Compounds were obtained from the plant for the first time.

Genistein ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Isoflavones ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Millettia ; chemistry ; Plant Stems ; chemistry ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry

Recent studies have suggested that natural agents such as isoflavones, resveratrol, and anthocyanin have beneficial effects on metabolic syndrome-related disorders. The objective of this study was to evaluate dietary isoflavone intake, urinary isoflavone level, and their relationship with the risk of metabolic syndrome (MetS) among Korean postmenopausal women. The subjects included 46 MetS and 60 controls. The MetS risk score was determined by adding the number of risk factors such as waist circumference, blood pressure (BP) and levels of triglyceride (TG), HDL-cholesterol, and glucose. Dietary isoflavone intake was not significantly different between the MetS and control groups; however, the urinary daidzein level was significantly higher in the MetS subjects compared to that of the controls. Subjects with high TG had higher urinary daidzein and isoflavone (daidzein + genistein) levels than those without such abnormalities. But, the MetS risk score showed no significant correlation with urinary daidzein, genistein, and isoflavone excretions.
Anthocyanins ; Blood Pressure ; Female ; Genistein ; Glucose ; Humans ; Isoflavones ; Risk Factors ; Triglycerides ; Waist Circumference