Source Of Phytoestrogens Research Articles

Pengaruh konsumsi susu kedelai terhadap amenorhoe sekunder pada remaja putri periode late adolescence di Dayah Insan Qur’ani Aceh Besar

Secondary amenorrhea is a menstrual cycle that occurs in women who have menstruated but does not increase menstruation within 3-6 months. The key to the menstrual cycle depends on changes in estrogen levels. Soybeans are the main source of phytoestrogens which play a role in stabilizing estrogen levels in the body, whereas 250 ml of soy milk contains 40 mg of phytoestrogens. The purpose of this study was to determine how to consume soy milk against changes in secondary amenorrhea in young women. This research is a descriptive-analytic conducted cross-sectionally. This type of research is an easy experiment with a non-randomized posttest group design. The research sample is young women who change secondary amenorrhea which is grouped into 2 groups of 17 people each. Data collection was conducted from August 2 to October 19, 2016. The statistical test used was the Wilcoxon test. The results showed that normal menstruation occurs in secondary amenorrhea adolescents after being given soy milk which is equal to 82.4% while in adolescents who are given sweetened condensed milk only by 29,4%. Statistical tests show the results of p= 0,002. The conclusion, there is a change in secondary amenorrhea between the samples gave soy milk, and those given sweetened condensed milk. Suggestions, it is necessary to provide a daily menu for students so that the menstrual cycle is maintained.

Groundwater discharges as a source of phytoestrogens and other agriculturally derived contaminants to streams

Groundwater discharge zones in streams are important habitats for aquatic organisms. The use of discharge zones for thermal refuge and spawning by fish and other biota renders them susceptible to potential focused discharge of groundwater contamination. Currently, there is a paucity of information about discharge zones as a potential exposure pathway of chemicals to stream ecosystems. Using thermal mapping technologies to locate groundwater discharges, shallow groundwater and surface water from three rivers in the Chesapeake Bay Watershed, USA were analyzed for phytoestrogens, pesticides and their degradates, steroid hormones, sterols and bisphenol A. A Bayesian censored regression model was used to compare groundwater and surface water chemical concentrations. The most frequently detected chemicals in both ground and surface water were the phytoestrogens genistein (79%) and formononetin (55%), the herbicides metolachlor (50%) and atrazine (74%), and the sterol cholesterol (88%). There was evidence suggesting groundwater discharge zones could be a unique exposure pathway of chemicals to surface water systems, in our case, metolachlor sulfonic acid (posterior mean concentration = 150 ng/L in groundwater and 4.6 ng/L in surface water). Our study also demonstrated heterogeneity of chemical concentration in groundwater discharge zones within a stream for the phytoestrogen formononetin, the herbicides metolachlor and atrazine, and cholesterol. Results support the hypothesis that discharge zones are an important source of exposure of phytoestrogens and herbicides to aquatic organisms. To manage critical resources within the Chesapeake Bay Watershed, more work is needed to characterize exposure in discharge zones more broadly across time and space.

Pengaruh konsumsi biji rami (Linum usitatissium) terhadap menstruasi pada remaja putri di SMP Negeri 2 Langsa

Background: Flaxseed (Linum Usitatissimum) is a type of grain. Flaxseed is one of the best food sources of phytoestrogens with 379,380 mcg for every 100 grams. The contents of flaxseeds are omega 3, alpha linoleic fatty acids, lignans, vitamin B1, soluble fiber, protein, copper, manganese, magnesium, zinc, selenium and phosphorus. Flaxseed has a variety of benefits that are very good for health, one of which is launching menstruation.Objective: To find out the Effect of Consumption of Flax Seed (Linum Usitatissimum) on the Achievement of Adolescent Girls in SMP Negeri 2 Langsa in 2017Method: This research is a quasi experiment, using a Randomized Doublle Blinde Controlles Trial design. This research was conducted at 2 Langsa State Junior High School in 2017. This study consisted of 288 students of VII and VIII Public Middle Schools as many as 288 students. The analysis used to determine differences in menstrual cycles in the treatment and control groups used paired t-test.Results: The results of univariate and bivariate analysis studies where the results were obtained from 136 samples, there was no significant relationship between phytoestrogen consumption with menstrual time p = 0.375 and there was no relationship between phytoestrogen consumption with menstrual cycle and menstrual blood volume with p = 0.119 and p = 0.980. The duration of normal menstruation usually ranges from 5 to 7 days, some even up to 10 days. While the menstrual cycle will be different for each woman. Normally the cycle will repeat every 28 days, but there are also those who have a cycle of up to 42 days.Conclusion: Based on bivariate analysis shows the average menstrual cycle, the length of menstruation, menstrual volume, and Hb levels there were no significant differences in treatment between the pretest and posttest groups.

Uterine Patterning, Endometrial Gland Development, and Implantation Failure in Mice Exposed Neonatally to Genistein.

Background:Embryo implantation relies on precise hormonal regulation, associated gene expression changes, and appropriate female reproductive tract tissue architecture. Female mice exposed neonatally to the phytoestrogen genistein (GEN) at doses similar to those in infants consuming soy-based infant formulas are infertile due in part to uterine implantation defects.Objectives:Our goal was to determine the mechanisms by which neonatal GEN exposure causes implantation defects.Methods:Female mice were exposed to GEN on postnatal days (PND)1–5 and uterine tissues collected on PND5, PND22–26, and during pregnancy. Analysis of tissue weights, morphology, and gene expression was performed using standard histology, confocal imaging with three-dimensional analysis, real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (real-time RT-PCR), and microarrays. The response of ovariectomized adults to (E2) and artificial decidualization were measured. Leukemia inhibitory factor (LIF) injections were given intraperitoneally and implantation sites visualized. Gene expression patterns were compared with curated data sets to identify upstream regulators.Results:GEN-exposed mice exhibited reduced uterine weight gain in response to E2 treatment or artificial decidualization compared with controls; however, expression of select hormone responsive genes remained similar between the two groups. Uteri from pregnant GEN-exposed mice were posteriorized and had reduced glandular epithelium. Implantation failure was not rescued by LIF administration. Microarray analysis of GEN-exposed uteri during early pregnancy revealed significant overlap with several conditional uterine knockout mouse models, including Foxa2, Wnt4, and Sox17. These models exhibit reduced endometrial glands, features of posteriorization and implantation failure. Expression of Foxa2, Wnt4, and Sox17, as well as genes important for neonatal uterine differentiation (Wnt7a, Hoxa10, and Msx2), were severely disrupted on PND5 in GEN-exposed mice.Discussion:Our findings suggest that neonatal GEN exposure in mice disrupts expression of genes important for uterine development, causing posteriorization and diminished gland function during pregnancy that contribute to implantation failure. These findings could have implications for women who consumed soy-based formulas as infants. https://doi.org/10.1289/EHP6336

Variation of Phytoestrogen Content and Major Agronomic Traits in Alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) Populations

Alfalfa is the main perennial legume and a rich source of phytoestrogens. Variation of phytoestrogen content and agronomic traits was evaluated in twenty alfalfa populations over two consecutive years. The most dominant phytoestrogen in alfalfa populations was genistein, while slightly lower levels were found for kaempferol and coumestrol. Several populations (Af 1, 12, 18, 19, 20) showed superior agronomic performance, especially high forage yield (up to 71.93 t ha−1). These populations were also characterized by a lower (Af 1, 12, 18, 20) or high (Af 1, 19) content of total and individual phytoestrogens, including Af 8 population with the highest total content (2637.10 μg g-1 of DM) and content of most of the individual phytoestrogens and favorable agronomic properties. Ward hierarchical clustering method grouped the twenty evaluated populations into four distinct clusters. Identified materials provide a valuable source of germplasm for further breeding programs in order to develop new high-yielding cultivars with either low (for forage use) or high (for possible pharmaceuticals/nutraceuticals industries) phytoestrogen content.

Estrogenic properties of Prunus cerasoides extract and its constituents in MCF-7 cell and evaluation in estrogen-deprived rodent models.

Prunus cerasoides (PC) products contain relatively high levels of flavones and isoflavones and may be potential sources of phytoestrogens for postmenopausal symptom relief. We assessed the PC extract (PCE) and its representative constituents in vitro with assays for estrogen receptor alpha binding, estrogen response element transcriptional activity, cell proliferation, and gene expression changes for pS2 in MCF-7 cells. PCE and its compounds showed strong estrogen receptor binding affinities and estrogen response element induction. A previously undescribed compound (designated as compound 18), now identified as being gentisic acid, 5-O-β-D-(6'-O-trans-4-coumaroyl)-glucopyranoside, also showed potent estrogenic properties and induced proliferation of MCF-7 cells. PCE was evaluated for its in vivo uterotrophic effects in immature female rats as well as for its lipid lowering effects in estrogen-deprived animals. For ovariectomized rats and aged female mice, PCE-treated groups had lower plasma triglyceride levels compared with control and, for the same comparison, had reduced serum levels of liver stress/damage markers. Our results point to strong estrogenic activities and beneficial metabolic effects for PCE, with properties that put PC and its extracts as promising sources of phytoestrogens for symptom relief in menopausal and postmenopausal cases.

Transcriptome analysis of Pueraria candollei var. mirifica for gene discovery in the biosyntheses of isoflavones and miroestrol

BackgroundPueraria candollei var. mirifica, a Thai medicinal plant used traditionally as a rejuvenating herb, is known as a rich source of phytoestrogens, including isoflavonoids and the highly estrogenic miroestrol and deoxymiroestrol. Although these active constituents in P. candollei var. mirifica have been known for some time, actual knowledge regarding their biosynthetic genes remains unknown.ResultsMiroestrol biosynthesis was reconsidered and the most plausible mechanism starting from the isoflavonoid daidzein was proposed. A de novo transcriptome analysis was conducted using combined P. candollei var. mirifica tissues of young leaves, mature leaves, tuberous cortices, and cortex-excised tubers. A total of 166,923 contigs was assembled for functional annotation using protein databases and as a library for identification of genes that are potentially involved in the biosynthesis of isoflavonoids and miroestrol. Twenty-one differentially expressed genes from four separate libraries were identified as candidates involved in these biosynthetic pathways, and their respective expressions were validated by quantitative real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction. Notably, isoflavonoid and miroestrol profiling generated by LC-MS/MS was positively correlated with expression levels of isoflavonoid biosynthetic genes across the four types of tissues. Moreover, we identified R2R3 MYB transcription factors that may be involved in the regulation of isoflavonoid biosynthesis in P. candollei var. mirifica. To confirm the function of a key-isoflavone biosynthetic gene, P. candollei var. mirifica isoflavone synthase identified in our library was transiently co-expressed with an Arabidopsis MYB12 transcription factor (AtMYB12) in Nicotiana benthamiana leaves. Remarkably, the combined expression of these proteins led to the production of the isoflavone genistein.ConclusionsOur results provide compelling evidence regarding the integration of transcriptome and metabolome as a powerful tool for identifying biosynthetic genes and transcription factors possibly involved in the isoflavonoid and miroestrol biosyntheses in P. candollei var. mirifica.

The Effect of Tomato Juice in Increasing Ki-67 Expression and Epithelial Thickness on The Vaginal Wall of Menopausal Rats

BACKGROUND: Dyspareunia and pain due to the decrease of vaginal wall thickness usually happen in menopausal women. The reduction of estrogen levels cause the decreasing of cell proliferation and the thinning of vaginal wall epithelium. Tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) is a source of phytoestrogens, which produce estrogenic effects. This study aims to assess the effect of tomato juice on Ki-67 expression and epithelial thickness of the vaginal wall in menopausal rats.METHODS: This was an experimental study using Sprague-Dawley rats. Twenty-four female rats, aged 4 months and weighing 150-200 grams, were divided into 4 groups. Each group consisted of 6 rats. Negative control (NC) group was group of rats with sham procedure and performed by distilled water for 28 days. Positive control (PC) group was group of bilateral ovariectomized rats and performed by distilled water for 28 days. The first treatment (T1) group was group of bilateral ovariectomized rats, given tomato juice at dose of 11g/200g body weight (BW)/day. The second treatment (T2) group was group of bilateral ovariectomized rats, given tomato juice at dose of 15g/200g BW/day. Data analysis was done with Anova, multiple comparisons and regression test.RESULTS: The group with lowest Ki-67 expression was PC group (2.52±0.60). The expression of Ki-67 in treatment groups (T1 and T2) was higher than PC group, but lower than NC group. There was no significant difference between groups (p=0.771). The lowest epithelial thickness was found in PC group (21.19±3.96) and the highest was found in the treatment groups (38.73±12.43). There was positive correlation between tomato juice and epithelial thickness (p=0.647).CONCLUSION: Tomato juice increases Ki-67 expression and epithelial thickness on the vaginal wall of menopausal rats. The increase of epithelial thickness follows the administration dose, but Ki-67 expression does not exceed in the control rats. Tomato juice increases the cell proliferation of vaginal wall on menopausal rats, however the increase is still within normal limits.KEYWORDS: epithelial thickness, Ki-67, menopause, tomato juice

Evaluation of the Anxiolytic Effect of Vitex agnus-castus on Female Mice and Possible Role of Estrogen Receptors

Background: Vitex agnus-castus is a source of phytoestrogens and is used traditionally in the treatment of premenstrual syndrome. The beneficial effects of phytoestrogens on anxiety have been shown in some studies. Objectives: In this research, we aimed to evaluate the anxiolytic activity of hydroalcoholic V. agnus-castus extract in animal models. Methods: For analyzing the antianxiety effects of the extracts, the elevated plus-maze test was applied. Thirty minutes before the test, different doses of V. agnus-castus (25, 50, and 100 mg/kg) were administered to mice. Diazepam and saline were used as the positive and negative controls, respectively. Tamoxifen was used as an antagonist of estrogen receptors to clarify the role of estrogen. Results: The time spent in the open arms increased at all doses of V. agnus-castus, while entries to closed arms reduced than the controls. Groups which received tamoxifen or a combination of tamoxifen with a high dose of V. angus-castus did not show any anti-anxiety effects. Conclusions: V. agnus-castus extract exhibited anti-anxiety effects and can be used in the treatment of the anxiety behaviors. Phytoestrogens from V. agnus-castus interact with estrogen receptors, which may be the underlying mechanism of its anxiolytic activity.

The impact of phytoestrogen source supplementation on reproductive performance, plasma profile, yolk fatty acids and antioxidative status in aged laying hens.

The objectives of this study were to investigate the effects of flaxseeds and/or fenugreek seeds as a source of phytoestrogens in laying feed on productive performance, egg quality, yolk fatty acids, plasma profile and antioxidative status in aged laying hens. A total of 120 Bovans Brown hens at 65weeks of age were housed individually in laying cages in an open-sided building under a 16-hr light: 8-hr dark lighting schedule. Hens were randomly divided into four experimental treatments (n=30 each): (a) control (basal diet without any supplementation); (b) 1g/kg of flaxseeds; (c) 1g/kg of fenugreek seeds; and (d) combination of 1g/kg flaxseeds and 1g/kg fenugreek seeds from 65 to 71weeks of age. Hen-day egg production and egg mass were significantly increased by dietary supplementation of flaxseeds and/or fenugreek seeds, while feed intake was not affected; thus, feed conversion ratio was improved (p<0.05). Weights of egg, albumen, yolk and shell were increased by the dietary treatments. Shell thickness and yolk colour were improved by supplementation of flaxseeds and/or fenugreek seeds. Yolk crude protein was not significantly affected by treatments; however, crude fat and calcium contents in yolk were increased and egg yolk cholesterol content was decreased. Interestingly, dietary supplementation of flaxseeds, fenugreek seeds and their combination had a significant positive effect on plasma luteinizing hormone, follicle-stimulating hormone, oestradiol-17β and triglycerides. Inclusion of flaxseeds and/or fenugreek seeds in the diets enhanced the serum glutathione peroxidase and superoxide dismutase activities and reduced the malondialdehyde and total cholesterol concentrations in plasma. Dietary supplementation of flaxseeds and/or fenugreek seeds increased α-linolenic and linoleic acids in egg yolk. It could be concluded that inclusion of mixed sources of phytoestrogens in diets improved laying performance, egg quality, the antioxidative status, hormonal profile and steroidogenesis in aged laying hens.

EFFECTS OF CENTELLA ASIATICA (L.) LEAF EXTRACT ON BONE CALCIUM AND PHOSPHATE LEVELS OF OVARIECTOMIZED RATS

Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of Centella asiatica leaf extract in maintaining calcium and phosphate levels in the bone forpreventing osteoporosis in postmenopausal women.Methods: The obtained C. asiatica leaf extract was administered to ovariectomized rats at the doses of 60, 120, and 180 mg/kg body weight (BW)for 30 days. Subsequently, the rats were euthanized by ether overdose, and bone calcium and phosphate levels were determined by the wet ashingtechnique and spectrophotometry.Results: The results showed no significant differences in the bone calcium and phosphate levels among rats administered with different doses ofC. asiatica leaf extract.Conclusion: Our results indicate that C. asiatica leaf extract cannot be used as a source of phytoestrogens to maintain calcium and phosphate levelsin the bones.

Lactic acid fermentation of legume seed sprouts as a method of increasing the content of isoflavones and reducing microbial contamination

Legume seeds and sprouts are a rich source of phytoestrogens in the form of isoflavonoids. For the first time, lactic acid fermentation of four types of legume sprouts was used to increase the content of isoflavonoids and microbiological safety. After germination, the highest content of isoflavonoids was observed in the clover and chickpea sprouts, which amounted to 1.1 g/100 g dw., whereas the lactic acid fermentation allowed the increase to as much as 5.5 g/100 g dw. The most beneficial properties were shown by fermented chickpea sprouts germinated in blue light. During fermentation the number of lactic acid bacteria increased by 2 Log10 CFU/mL (LU), whereas mold decreased by 1 LU, E. coli and Klebsiella sp. by 2 LU, Salmonella sp. and Shigella sp. did not occur after fermentation, similar to Staphylococcus epidermidis, while S. aureus and S. saprophyticus decreased by 3 LU and in some trials were not detected.

Forage Legumes as Sources of Bioactive Phytoestrogens for Use in Pharmaceutics: A Review.

Alfalfa and red clover are the most widespread and most important perennial legumes, primarily used as a high-quality feed for livestock. Both alfalfa and red clover, as well as some other plant species from Fabaceae family, are a rich natural source of phytoestrogens, nonsteroidal compounds with an estrogenic activity whose beneficial effects in the prevention and treatment of many diseases are demonstrated in numerous scientific studies. Nowadays, various herbal preparations are present on the world market and their use is constantly increasing, as well as the growing demands of consumers for environmentally sound and health-safe production of plant species used as sources of active substances. Because of their widespread distribution, the possibility of organic breeding, and also significant increases in surface area under genetically modified crops in most EU countries, alfalfa and red clover have become more interesting alternative sources of phytoestrogens. The most common phytoestrogens in these forage legumes are genistein, daidzein, glycitein, formononetin, biochanin, coumestrol, kaempferol and apigenin. The content of these substances is significantly influenced by a number of factors including genotype, environment, production technology, plant maturity stage, and individual plant parts. Available evidence suggests that forage legumes represent high promising sources of health-promoting phytoestrogens. Due to numerous favorable features, they can find commercial application in different industries such as pharmaceutical, nutraceutical, cosmetic, and agriculture.

Potential ameliorative effects of epigallocatechin‑3‑gallate against testosterone-induced benign prostatic hyperplasia and fibrosis in rats

Green tea is among the most popular beverages in the world and is an important source of phytoestrogens. Epigallocatechin‑3‑gallate (EGCG) is the major polyphenol in green tea. The aim of this study was to investigate the anti-benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) activity and underling mechanisms of EGCG in testosterone-induced BPH rats and in BPH-1 cells. Prostatic levels of oxidative stress and inflammation makers, as well as angiogenesis related growth factors were measured. Additionally, the prostatic levels of sex hormonal mediators (androgen receptor (AR), estrogen receptor (ER)-α and ER-β), hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF)-1α, transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1), type I TGF-β receptor (TGF-βRI), Smad3, phosphorylation-Smad3 (p-Smad3), epithelial–mesenchymal transition (EMT) markers (E-cadherin, collagen-I, fibronectin and α-SMA) and microRNA (miR)-133a/b were analyzed by immunohistochemistry assay, western blot and/or quantitative RT-PCR. It was observed that EGCG attenuated the prostatic oxidative stress and inflammatory microenvironment, ameliorated prostatic hyperplasia and collagen deposition, reduced the levels of angiogenesis related growth factors, inhibited the over-expression of AR, ER-α, HIF-1α, TGF-β1, TGF-βRI and p-Smad3, enhanced the expression of ER-β, increased the levels of miR-133a/b, as well as relieved prostatic EMT in rats. Both HIF-1α inhibitor and EGCG decreased the expression of HIF-1α and TGF-β1, as well as attenuated EMT in BPH-1 cells. It indicated that EGCG could attenuate testosterone-induced BPH and fibrosis.

Pemanfaatan Jerami Kedelai pada Pakan Induk Sapi Silangan Simmental-Peranakan Ongole

The onset of first postpartum estrous is an indicator in the beef cattle reproduction efficiency. Soybean straw is a local feed ingredients that contain phytoestrogen compounds. The present experiment was conducted to determine the effect of the use of soybean straw as a source of phytoestrogen to accelerate the onset of the first postpartum estrous of Simmental – Ongole crossbred cows. This research applies by completely randomized design (CRD) consisted three treatments and each treatment is repeated five times. Treatment consist of : P0: control (standar feed), P1: control + 5 g of phytoestrogen (1.8 kg of soybean straw), and P2: control + 10 of g phytoestrogen (3.6 kg of soybean straw). The result showed that the use of soybean straw as a source of phytoestrogen increase consumption CP (P&lt;0,05), whereas DM and TDN comsumption increased only slighthy (P&gt;0,05). Supplementation of soybean straw as a source phytoestrogen are also likely to accelerate the first postpartum estrous. Â

Ethyl Acetate Extract of Licorice Root (Glycyrrhiza glabra) Enhances Proliferation and Osteogenic Differentiation of Human Bone Marrow Mesenchymal Stem Cells.

Glycyrrhiza glabra (G. glabra) has been used as a flavoring and sweetener agent, in addition to its therapeutic properties. It is rich in phytoestrogen and may prevent osteoporosis caused by estrogen deficiency; however, there is no evidence for its effects on proliferation and osteogenesis in mesenchymal stem cells. So, we were encouraged to investigate whether the ethyl acetate extract of licorice root as a source of phytoestrogen can act similar to estrogen in cell culture. Furthermore, the analysis of the licorice extract (LE) based on HPLC-DAD-ESI-MS indicated that LE comprises phytoestrogen compounds, such as glabridin and glabrene. In this study, the effects of LE on proliferation of human bone-marrow mesenchymal stem cells (hBM-MSCs) were investigated using MTT assay. In addition, its effects on the osteogenesis were evaluated using alkaline phosphatase activity (ALP), calcium deposition, and bone specific gene expression such as ALP, osteocalcin, Runx2, and BMP-2. The quantitative gene expression was studied by real-time RT-PCR. Our results showed a significant increase in proliferation in presence of LE in concentration 10-50 µg/mL. The differentiation of hBM-MSCs increased in doses of LE (10-25 µg/mL) compared to the control group. The effects of LE were similar to those of 17β-estradiol (E2) (10-8 M) and were abolished by ICI 182,780 an antagonist of estrogen receptor (ER) (10-7), indicating that the stimulatory effects of LE occur through estrogen receptor-mediated mechanism . Taking these into account, LE may be a potential candidate for prevention of osteoporosis in menopausal women.

Optimization Formula Tablet Extract of Bengkuang (Pachyrrhizus erosus) Variation Avicel® Ph 101 and Crospovidone

Bengkuang (Pachyrrhizus erosus) contains daidzein which is pro-estrogenic compound, suppressing bone restoration by directing mechanism in bone estrogen receptor. Bengkuang can be developed into a useful source of phytoestrogens as a supplement in menopausal women. This study aims to determine the stability and influence of Avicel® PH 101 and crospovidone on granular flow properties and physical properties of Bengkuang tuber extract. Bengkuang tuber extracts were made into tablet preparations by wet granulation method. Variation of crospovidone composition was between 2-5%, while Avicel® PH 101 was between 38.86 to 41.86%. The tablet formulation is optimized using the Simplex Lattice Design method. The results show that the addition of Avicel® PH 101 can improve the index of determination, water absorption, moisture content, hardness, time of disintegration, and friability of the tablet, as well as crospovidone addition. Avicel® PH 101 and crospovidone interactions increase water content, decrease hardness, and tablet friability. The optimum tablet formula consists of composition of 293 mg of Avicel® PH 101 and 14 mg of crospovidone per tablet. Testing of optimum formula results with SLD method did not differ significantly to the response of the compression index, hardness and friability of the tablet. The tablet was stable at room temperature (30ºC ± 2 ºC) for four weeks.

Phytoestrogens: A Possible Agent for Controlling Fertility

Phytoestrogens are naturally occurring non-steroidal estrogenic compounds. They are structurally similar to endogenous 17I²-estradiol but the relative potency is significantly lower than that of steroidal estrogens. They are common constituents of human and animal diet. Soy is a common and very rich source of phytoestrogens. Their regular consumption has been related to chemopreventive activities against various hormone-dependent cancers including breast and prostate and alleviation of some of the adverse consequences of menopause. However, they have been linked with potential adverse effects associated with impaired reproductive function in mammalian species.

Flaxseed Oil Micro Particles: It’s Effect on Mulberry Silkworm, Bombyx mori L. Productivity and Antioxidant Activity

Increasing egg production is a necessary demand for silkworm rearing continuity in Egypt. Flaxseed plant has a compound that mimics estrogen hormone in vertebrates. Emulsions contain micro particles prepared from flaxseed oil were used in the present study as an exogenous source of phyto-estrogen. Micro particles size were measured by Zeta sizer and ranging from 1053 to 4087 nm with percentages 33.4 and 66.6 %, respectively. Fifth instar larvae were topically applied with flaxseed micro particles emulsion with three concentrations (0.25, 1 and 3 %) in addition to control every 48 hrs. The present study clarify that, 0.25% concentration have a tremendous effect on egg production and cocoon characters. As well as observations related to insect performance revealed maximum larval weight, effective rate of rearing (ERR), pupation percentage, pupal weight comparing with controls. On the other hand, deleterious effect was observed for concentrations (1 and 3%). Antioxidant activities were estimated by 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhryl free radical (DPPH*) scavenging activity reagent and the highest activity was recorded for 1 % treatment 36.947 %.

Evaluation of estrogenic activity of red clover (Trifolium pratense L.) sprouts cultivated under different conditions by content of isoflavones, calorimetric study and molecular modelling

Isoflavones have an affinity for estrogen receptors (ERs) including beneficial affinity for ERβ. Widely used soy is a source of poorly absorbed isoflavones glycosides. Red clover contains mostly easily absorbed free aglycones. Red clover sprouts were cultivated under different conditions (white light, UVA or UVB for 12 or 24 h a day at 18 or 25 °C) to maximise the content of isoflavones, especially of high affinity for ERβ. The affinity of isoflavones to ERs was evaluated by molecular modelling and isothermal titration calorimetry (ITC). The richest source of isoflavones, especially formononetin were sprouts cultivated for 10 days under continuous white light and at 25 °C (562 mg/100 g of fresh mass). Formononetin and the above sprouts has been shown to have a high affinity for ERβ. Red clover sprouts can be considered as a source of phytoestrogens with high biological activity and as a dietary supplement reducing menopausal symptoms.