title: Genistein.
abstract: Genistein (4',5,7-trihydroxyisoflavone) is a common precursor in the biosynthesis of antimicrobial phytoalexins and phytoanticipins in legumes, and an important nutraceutical molecule found in soybean seeds. Genistein is a phytoestrogen with a wide variety of pharmacological effects in animal cells, including tyrosine kinase inhibition, and dietary genistein ingestion has been linked, through epidemiological and animal model studies, with a range of potential health beneficial effects. These include chemoprevention of breast and prostate cancers, cardiovascular disease and post-menopausal ailments. In spite of an extensive literature on the effects of dietary genistein, questions still exist as to its potential overall benefits as a component of the human diet. Genistein can be synthesized chemically via the deoxybenzoin or chalcone route. Genistein is synthesized in plants from the flavanone naringenin by a novel ring migration reaction catalyzed by the cytochrome P450 enzyme isoflavone synthase (IFS). IFS genes have recently been cloned from a number of plant species, and production of genistein can be now achieved in non-legumes by recombinant DNA approaches.
authors.affiliation: Plant Biology Division, Samuel Roberts Noble Foundation, 2510 Sam Noble Parkway, Ardmore, OK 73401, USA. radixon@noble.org
authors.forename: Richard A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Dixon
authors.forename: Daneel
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Ferreira
mesh_terms: D001682:Biological Availability; D018890:Chemoprevention; D004968:Estrogens, Non-Steroidal / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology; D019833:Genistein / Q000138:chemical synthesis / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism / Q000627:therapeutic use; D007529:Isoflavones; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000517:prevention & control; D048789:Phytoestrogens; D028321:Plant Preparations; D030821:Plants, Genetically Modified / Q000378:metabolism; D017698:Postmenopause; D013025:Glycine max / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D004968:Estrogens, Non-Steroidal; D007529:Isoflavones; D048789:Phytoestrogens; D028321:Plant Preparations; D019833:Genistein