Equol binds to the estrogen receptor with greater affinity than its precursor, daidzein, an isoflavone found in soybeans. Inter-individual differences in the ability to produce equol may lead to differential effects of isoflavone intervention on human health. Here, we review previously published work from our laboratory on equol producer status and bone health in humans and in a mouse model of ...

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 ...

The prenylated flavonoids, topazolin [5,7,4'-trihydroxy-3-methoxy-6-(3,3-dimethylaIlyl)flavone], piscerythrone [5,7,2',4'-tetrahydroxy-5'-methoxy-3'-(3,3-dimethylallyl)isoflavone] and piscidone [5,7,4',5'-tetrahydroxy-2'-methoxy-6'-(3,3-dimethylallyl)isoflavone] were meta­ bolized by Aspergillus flavus and Botrytis cinerea to give a variety of products. Topazolin and piscerythrone were converte...

Mature soybean (Glycine max L. cv Harosoy 63) leaves normally contain kaempferol-3-glycosides but they accumulate no other flavonoids. Whole leaves sprayed with the diphenyl ether herbicide Acifluorfen and maintained in the light developed small necrotic lesions and accumulated isoflavone aglycones, isoflavone glucosides, and pterocarpans. Isoflavonoid accumulation was preceded by induced activ...

Isoflavones comprise a group of secondary metabolites produced almost exclusively by plants in the legume family, including soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.]. They play vital roles in plant defense and have many beneficial effects on human health. Isoflavone content is a complex quantitative trait controlled by multiple genes, and the genetic mechanisms underlying isoflavone biosynthesis remain ...

The objectives of this study were to use soybean cake as the raw material for the production of isoflavone powder and compare the effects of different carriers as well as drying methods on the powder quality. Results showed that with spray drying, a level of 40% maltodextrin as carrier produced the highest yield (mass) of isoflavone powder, followed by 10% gelatin and 1% sodium alginate. Howeve...

T he p reny la ted isoflavone, 2 ,3-dehydrokievitone [5 ,7 ,2 ',4 '-tetrahydroxy-8-(3 ,3-dim ethylally l)isoflavone, 1], was m etabolized by both Aspergillus flavus and Botrytis cinerea to yield the sam e th ree com pounds, a dihydrofurano-isoflavone (D K -M 1, 2), a d ihydropyrano-isoflavone (D K M 2, 3), and a glycol (D K -M 3, 4). A lthough structure 3 has previously been assigned to lunaton...

BACKGROUND Isoflavones comprise a class of phytoestrogens that resemble human estrogen in chemical structure, and have weak estrogenic effects. Because estrogen modulates sleep duration and quality, we hypothesized that isoflavones would have a beneficial effect on sleep status in a way similar to estrogen. We conducted a cross-sectional study to investigate the relationship between daily isofl...

Soybean seeds contain large amounts of isoflavones or phytoestrogens such as genistein, daidzein, and glycitein that display biological effects when ingested by humans and animals. In seeds, the total amount, and amount of each type, of isoflavone varies by 5 fold between cultivars and locations. Isoflavone content and quality are one key to the biological effects of soy foods, dietary suppleme...

The objectives of this study were to isolate various isoflavone fractions and extracts from soybean cake by preparative column chromatography and compare them with isoflavone standards with regards to inhibition of HepG2 cancer cell proliferation. Four fractions, including malonylglucoside, glucoside, acetylglucoside and aglycone, and two isoflavone extracts, ISO-1 and ISO-2, were collected for...