Bioactive isoflavones

Turner NJ, Thomson BM, Shaw IC. 2003. Bioactive isoflavones in functional foods The importance of gut microflora on bioavailability. Nutr Rev 61 204-213. 

Soy protein and the bioactive isoflavones may provide additional benefits of soy. When compared to animal protein, soy protein lowers serum LDL-C levels, although modestly, as demonstrated by more recent clinical studies (Balk et al., 2005 Sacks et... 

Pyo, Y.H., Lee, T.C., and Lee, Y.C. 2006. Effect of Lactic Acid Fermentation on Enrichment of Antioxidant Properties and Bioactive Isoflavones in Soybean. Journal of Food Science, 70(3), S215-S220. 

Grynkiewicz G, Achmatowicz O, Pucko W (2000) Bioactive isoflavone - genistein. Synthesis and prospective applications. HerbaPol46 151-160... 

To obtain an updated set of data on the phytoestrogens content in foods and diets, we suggest checking the following websites http //www.venus-ca.org/database.htm (phytoestrogen database of the EU-funded project VENUS) http //www.nal.usda.gov/fhic/foodcomp/Data/isoflav/isoflav.html (USDA-Iowa State University database on the isoflavones content of foods) and http //www.ilf.bbsrc.ac.uk/phytochemicals/Links.htm (Institute of Food Research Database on the levels of bioactive compounds in plant foods). 

Flavonoids are a complex group of polyphenolic compounds with a basic C6-C3-C6 structure that can be divided in different groups flavonols, flavones, flavanols (or flavan-3-ols), flavanones, anthocyanidins, and isoflavones. More than 6,000 flavonoids are known the most widespread are flavonols, such as quercetin flavones, such as lu-teolin and flavanols (flavan-3-ols), such as catechin. Anthocyanidins are also bioactive flavonoids they are water-soluble vegetable pigments found especially in berries and other red-blue fruits and vegetables. 

Using the technique of activity-guided chromatographic isolation, it is possible to generate many structurally novel bioactive plant secondary metabolites, and examples have been provided in this chapter of plant secondary metabolites with potential anticancer or potential cancer chemopreventive activity, comprised by compounds representative of the chal-cone, flavanone, flavone, furocoumarin, isoflavone, lignan, oligostilbenoid (resveratrol... 

A new method of bioactivity-directed fractionation, based on multidrug resistant pump (MDR) inhibition in Staphylococcus aureus, was reported for medicinal plants. This work resulted in the isolation, from berberine-containing Berberis species, two compounds that are themselves devoid of antibacterial activity, but that form potent synergistic couples with a sub-inhibitory concentration of berberine. The bacterial MDR pump inhibitors were identified as the flavonolignan 2 and the porphyrin 3 [98]. The isoflavones not only enhanced the antibacterial activity of the natural product, berberine. Fig. 4, but also the activity of synthetic... 

Isoflavones form the largest class of metabolites ever reported from the genus Erythrina with pterocarpans trailing close at second. They however form the second largest class of bioactive compounds from the genus after the pterocarpans. This class shows the widest diversity of activity among all reported bioactive compounds. 

Observations of lower rates of certain chronic diseases in several Asian countries compared to the United States served as the impetus for studies that were conducted to identify the factors that were accountable (Tham et al., 1998). Consumption of soy is one factor that correlated with these lower rates. From this information, much research focused on soy protein and accompanying bioactive compounds with regard to elucidating mechanisms associated with risk markers for chronic disease, particularly CVD. The combination of macro- (protein, fiber, fat) and micro-components (isoflavones, saponins, tocopherols) as part of many traditional soy foods may underlie the epidemiological observations associated with soy intake. A body of cell culture and animal data shows potential health effects of a multitude of bioactive components in soy (i.e., saponins, phenolic acids, peptides). However, studies determining the independent effects of saponins, phenolic acids, and protease inhibitors in humans are yet to be conducted. 

Many isoflavone foods could provide an essential dietary source as the bioactive nonnutrients because isoflavones (2) are widely foimd in then-leguminous plants such as soybeans (Photo 1) and kowhai (Photos 2 and 3). 

Vinall RL, Hwa K, Ghosh P, Pan CX, Lara PN Jr, de Vere White RW (2007) Combination treatment of prostate cancer cell lines with bioactive soy isoflavones and perifosine causes increased growth arrest and/or apoptosis. Clin Cancer Res 13 6204—6216... 

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