Estrogenic activity of glyceollins isolated from soybean elicited with Aspergillus sojae.
Glyceollins, which are synthesized from daidzein in soybeans cultured with fungi, have been shown to have antifungal effects and cancer preventive properties. Several studies have proposed that isoflavones and their metabolites act as a mixed agonist/antagonist for estrogen. Although glyceollins were reported to suppress some cancer cells via anti-estrogenic activity, it is not clear whether the compounds possess estrogenic potential. In contrast to the anti-estrogenic action reported thus far, we observed estrogenic effects of glyceollins using E-screen assay and pS2 expression, whereas glyceollins showed higher affinity for estrogen receptor (ER) beta than ERalpha. We also found that glyceollins were more efficiently produced de novo in minced than in half-sliced soybean, following infection with Aspergillus sojae. In conclusion, glyceollins may be useful in the prevention or amelioration of postmenopausal complications because they had strong estrogenic activity, and their production could be variable depending upon processing prior to fungal inoculation.
Kim
Hyo Jung
HJ
School of Applied Biosciences, Kyungpook National University, Daegu, Republic of Korea.
Suh
Hwa-Jin
HJ
Kim
Jeong Hwan
JH
Kang
Sun Chul
SC
Park
Sunmin
S
Lee
Choong Hwan
CH
Kim
Jong-Sang
JS
D001230:Aspergillus; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism*; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D048789:Phytoestrogens / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology*; D028321:Plant Preparations / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology*; D036343:Pterocarpans / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology*; D011960:Receptors, Estrogen / Q000378:metabolism; D012639:Seeds / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000382:microbiology; D013025:Glycine max / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000382:microbiology; D000071163:Trefoil Factor-1; D025521:Tumor Suppressor Proteins / Q000378:metabolism
D048789:Phytoestrogens; D028321:Plant Preparations; D036343:Pterocarpans; D011960:Receptors, Estrogen; C051838:TFF1 protein, human; D000071163:Trefoil Factor-1; D025521:Tumor Suppressor Proteins