title: Phytoestrogens: perpetrators or protectors?
abstract: Phytoestrogens are estrogen-like substances produced by plants that account for some of the constituents present in vegetation that may be responsible for the health benefits of a diet rich in fruit and vegetables. Phytoestrogens have a plethora of different actions that they are capable of exerting on cellular metabolism. This review will focus on some of the major non-estrogen receptor-mediated cellular effects used by phytoestrogens and will draw attention to the fact that while they may have a number of beneficial effects, particularly in offering a protective effect against some hormone-dependent cancers, such as breast and prostate cancer, they may also have possible unfavorable effects by interfering with the functioning of normal cellular activities such as receptor-mediated signal transduction and DNA replication, as well as being genotoxic, mutagenic and promoting the proliferation of some cancer cells.
authors.affiliation: University of Wolverhampton, Research Institute of Healthcare Science, Wulfruna Street, Wolverhampton, UK. j.martin@wlv.ac.uk
authors.forename: Jan H J
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Martin
authors.forename: Stephen
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Crotty
authors.forename: Paul N
authors.initials: PN
authors.lastname: Nelson
mesh_terms: D006801:Humans; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000517:prevention & control*; D048789:Phytoestrogens / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008517:Phytotherapy
chemical_list: D048789:Phytoestrogens