Estrogenic effects of phytoestrogens derived from Flemingia strobilifera in MCF-7 cells and immature rats

Abstract

Phytoestrogen (PE) has received considerable attention due to the physiological significance of its estrogenicity. Flemingia strobilifera (FS) has been used as a folk medicine in Asia for the treatment of inflammation, cancer, and infection; however, the estrogenic effects and chemical components of FS have not yet been reported. We aimed to uncover the estrogenic properties and PEs derived from FS using phytochemical and pharmacological evaluation. PEs from FS extract (FSE) were analyzed by NMR, HPLC, and MS. To evaluate estrogenic activity, FSE and its compounds were evaluated by in vitro and in vivo assays, including human estrogen receptor alpha (hERα) binding, estrogen response element (ERE)-luciferase reporter assays, and uterotrophic assays. FSE and its compounds 1-5 showed binding affinities for hERα and activated ERE transcription in MCF-7 cells. Additionally, FSE and compounds 1-5 induced MCF-7 cell proliferation and trefoil factor 1 (pS2) expression. In immature female rats, significant increases in uterine weight and pS2 gene were observed in FSE-treated groups. We identified estrogenic activities of FSE and its bioactive compounds, suggesting their possible roles as PEs via ERs. PEs derived from FSE are promising candidates for ER-targeted therapy for post-menopausal symptoms.

New Isoflavanes from Spatholobus suberectus and Their Cytotoxicity against Human Breast Cancer Cell Lines

“…Four known compounds were identified by comparison of the spectroscopic data obtained with those reported in the corresponding literature, as ( S )-sativan ( 4 ) [18], maackiain ( 6 ) [25], biochanin A ( 7 ) [26], and genistein ( 8 ) [27].…”

Anti-Inflammatory Activity of Cajanin, an Isoflavonoid Derivative Isolated from Canavalia lineata Pods

“…The methanol extract (152.1 g) of C. lineata pods suspended in H 2 O was successively partitioned into EtOAc- (15.2 g) and BuOH-soluble (9.6 g) fractions, which were subjected to C 18 column chromatography, MPLC, and preparative HPLC to obtain 1 new flavonoid ( 2 ) and 12 known compounds ( Figure 1 and Figure S1 ), including rutin ( 1 ) [ 15 ], (2 R ,3 R )-3,7-dihydroxy- 6-methoxyflavanone ( 3 ) [ 16 ], prunetin ( 4 ) [ 17 ], 7,4′-dimethoxyisoflavone ( 5 ) [ 18 ], ononin ( 6 ) [ 19 ], cajanin ( 7 ) [ 20 ], 7,4′-dimethyl-3′-hydroxygenistein ( 8 ) [ 21 ], medicarpin ( 9 ) [ 19 ], homopterocarpin ( 10 ) [ 22 ], pterocarpin ( 11 ) [ 23 ], (+)-syringaresinol ( 12 ) [ 24 ], and (−)-syringaresinol-4- O - β - d -glucopyranoside ( 13 ) [ 24 ]. This is the first report of compounds 1 – 13 from C. lineata , and all the isolates were evaluated for their inhibitory activity on the LPS-stimulated production of the proinflammatory mediators NO, IL-6, and TNF-α in RAW264.7 cells.…”