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. 2010 Jul;4(8):111-7.
doi: 10.4103/0973-7847.70900.

Current knowledge and future direction of research on soy isoflavones as a therapeutic agents

V Kalaiselvan  1 , M Kalaivani, A Vijayakumar, K Sureshkumar, K Venkateskumar
Affiliations

Current knowledge and future direction of research on soy isoflavones as a therapeutic agents

V Kalaiselvan et al. Pharmacogn Rev. 2010 Jul.

Abstract

Isoflavones, the most abundant phytoestrogens in Soy beans, are structurally similar to 17beta-estradiol. The antioxidant property of the soy isoflavones, namely, genistein and daidzein is well established in different experimental models and also in clinical studies. The compounds have been found effective in the management of diabetes by acting on peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors. It reduces the risk of coronary heart disease by reducing the level of low-density lipoprotein and triglycerides. Soy isoflavones have the potential in the treatment of osteoporosis to act on osteoclasts further to inhibit tyrosine kinase. Among the soy isoflavones, genistein is the potential compound found effective in the treatment of cancer by acting on androgen receptor further to inhibit tyrosine kinases. In this article, various aspects of the diverse biological activities of soy isoflavones and their potential clinical implications with mechanism of action, especially in the treatment and prevention of diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, cancer, osteoporosis, neuroprotection, and also future area of research on soy isoflavones are reviewed and discussed.

Keywords: Antioxidant; daidzein; genistein; isoflavones; neuroprotection; osteoporosis; soy beans.

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Conflict of interest statement

Conflict of Interest: None declared

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Different chemical constituents in soya bean
Figure 2
Figure 2
Chemical structure of soy isoflavones, such as daidzein, genistein, and glycitein, Daidzein is 4’, 7- dihydroxyisoflayone, genistein is 4’5, 7-trihydroxy isoflavones and glycitein is 7,4’ - dihydroxy-6-methoxyisoflayone.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Inhibition of growth and proliferation of cancer cells by soy isoflavones
Figure 4
Figure 4
Mechanism of action of soy isoflavones in the treatment of osteoporosis, (a) Osteoclast cells carried via bloodstream to bone, (b) Cells fimly attach themselves to the bone, (c) Cells releases acid and enzymes that dissolve the bone, (d) Osteoclast cells disappears once their function is completed, (e) Soy isoflavones stimulates the activity and proliferation of osteoblasts (bond-building), (f) The cells produce a collagen core and coat it with an adhesive substance, (g) Calcium adheres to the collagen, forming new bone tissue
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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