Phytoestrogens: An Investigation on Their Synergistic Effects
Keywords:
Environmental Endocrine, Review of Literature, Biosynthesis, Estrogen Receptor (ER), ERα and Erβ, DNA Binding, Antiestrogens, Phytoestrogens, Synergistic Activity of Phytoestrogens, Genistein and Coumestrol, Materials and Methods, Chemicals and Test Compounds, Animals, Animal Surgical Procedures and Sacrifice, Recombinant Yeast Cell Culture Bioassay, Histological Procedures, Uterotrophic Bioassay, Vaginotrophic effectsSynopsis
With growing concern about environmental health worldwide, the safety of foods or diet has also received great attention over the years. Consequently, the analysis of chemical composition of various types of vegetables, fruits and other natural plant
derived foods combined with determination of the possible role of various such natural compounds on human and animal health became a major scientific research focus over the last two decades. Phytoestrogens are one class of those natural compounds found in many plant derived foods which exhibit unique biological activities by mimicking the actions of estrogen, a natural hormone available in humans and other mammals. The Estrogens play significant role in reproductive physiology of organisms
possessing them. Therefore, the interference of normal endocrine functions by external agencies or environmental factors has led to the development of the new area of research known as “Environmental Endocrine Disruption”. Tremendous progress of scientific research in this field around the world have produced sufficient evidences in support of both the beneficial and harmful health effects of phytoestrogens in humans and other animals.
These findings, including effects on both reproductive as well as on general health, together with the realisation of presence of multiple such compounds in our everyday diet have led to the research on yet another important concern of their possible synergistic effects. The piece of investigation presented in this book is one of such endeavour to assess the synergistic effects of two most potent phytoestrogens viz., Genistein and Coumestrol. Both in-vivo and in-vitro effects of these compounds have been studied using Ovariectomized Albino Mice and Recombinant Yeast Cells containing gene for Estrogen Receptor respectively. Interestingly, the findings revealed synergistic effects of the compounds for certain parameters while antagonistic effects for others either in the presence or absence of estrogen.
