A phytoestrogen is a plant-derived xenoestrogen (a type of estrogen produced by organisms other than humans) not generated within the endocrine system, but consumed by eating plants or manufactured foods.[1] Also called a "dietary estrogen", it is a diverse group of naturally occurring nonsteroidal plant compounds that, because of its structural similarity to estradiol (17-β-estradiol), have the ability to cause estrogenic or antiestrogenic effects.[2] Phytoestrogens are not essential nutrients because their absence from the diet does not cause a disease, nor are they known to participate in any normal biological function.[2] Common foods containing phytoestrogens are soy protein, beans, oats, barley, rice, coffee, apples, carrots (see Food Sources section below for bigger list).
Its name comes from the Greek phyto ("plant") and estrogen, the hormone which gives fertility to female mammals. The word "estrus" (Greek οίστρος) means "sexual desire", and "gene" (Greek γόνο) is "to generate". It has been hypothesized that plants use a phytoestrogen as part of their natural defense against the overpopulation of herbivore animals by controlling female fertility.[3][4]
The similarities, at molecular level, of an estrogen and a phytoestrogen allow them to mildly mimic and sometimes act as an antagonist of estrogen.[2] Phytoestrogens were first observed in 1926,[2][5] but it was unknown if they could have any effect in human or animal metabolism. In the 1940s and early 1950s, it was noticed that some pastures of subterranean clover and red clover (phytoestrogen-rich plants) had adverse effects on the fecundity of grazing sheep.[2][6][7][8]
Chemical structures of the most common phytoestrogens found in plants (top and middle) compared with estrogen (bottom) found in animals
^"Isoflavones". Micronutrient Information Center, Linus Pauling Institute, Oregon State University, Corvallis. October 2016. Retrieved 6 August 2022.
^ abcdeYildiz F (2005). Phytoestrogens in Functional Foods. Taylor & Francis Ltd. pp. 3–5, 210–211. ISBN 978-1-57444-508-4.
^Hughes CL (Jun 1988). "Phytochemical mimicry of reproductive hormones and modulation of herbivore fertility by phytoestrogens". Environmental Health Perspectives. 78: 171–4. doi:10.1289/ehp.8878171. PMC 1474615. PMID 3203635.
^Bentley GR, Mascie-Taylor CG (2000). Infertility in the modern world: present and future prospects. Cambridge, UK: Cambridge University Press. pp. 99–100. ISBN 978-0-521-64387-0.
^Varner JE, Bonner J (1966). Plant Biochemistry. Academic Press. ISBN 978-0-12-114856-0.
^Bennetts HW, Underwood EJ, Shier FL (1946). "A specific breeding problem of sheep on subterranean clover pastures in Western Australia". Australian Veterinary Journal. 22 (1): 2–12. doi:10.1111/j.1751-0813.1946.tb15473.x. PMID 21028682.
^Cunningham IJ, Hogan KG (1954). "Oestrogens in New Zealand pasture plants". N. Z. Vet. J. 2 (4): 128–134. doi:10.1080/00480169.1954.33166.
^Johnston I (2003). Phytochem Functional Foods. CRC Press Inc. pp. 66–68. ISBN 978-0-8493-1754-5.
A phytoestrogen is a plant-derived xenoestrogen (a type of estrogen produced by organisms other than humans) not generated within the endocrine system...
consumption of soy phytoestrogens and testosterone or estrogen levels or sperm quality. Soy products contain high amounts of phytoestrogens. As they are structurally...
as isoflavones. It is described as an angiogenesis inhibitor and a phytoestrogen. It was first isolated in 1899 from the dyer's broom, Genista tinctoria;...
a type of naturally occurring isoflavonoids, many of which act as phytoestrogens in mammals. Isoflavones are produced almost exclusively by the members...
and beer made with it, contain 8-prenylnaringenin which is a potent phytoestrogen. Hop also contains myrcene, humulene, xanthohumol, isoxanthohumol, myrcenol...
full-fat, low-fat, defatted, and lecithinated types. Most studies of phytoestrogens in soy have identified the isoflavones genistein and daidzein as its...
name derives from the Latin word for "wood". Lignans are precursors to phytoestrogens. They may play a role as antifeedants in the defense of seeds and plants...
attributed to preparations from this herbal drug. However, formonetin—a phytoestrogen compound (isoflavone)—could only be detected in methanolic extracts...
health. One such group of metabolites is phytoestrogens, found in nuts, oilseeds, soy, and other foods. Phytoestrogens are chemicals which act like the hormone...
in 2012. Alfalfa, like other leguminous crops, is a known source of phytoestrogens, including spinasterol, coumestrol, and coumestan. Because of this,...
flavonoids found in other plants, vegetables and flowers. Soy contains the phytoestrogen coumestans, also are found in beans and split-peas, with the best sources...
phytoandrogen. Phytoandrogens have been implicated in sex-reversal in fish. Phytoestrogen Plant hormone Ong VY, Tan BK (January 2007). "Novel phytoandrogens and...
predators. They include hormone-mimicking phytoestrogens and astringent tannins. Plants containing phytoestrogens have been administered for centuries for...
Resveratrol (3,5,4′-trihydroxy-trans-stilbene) is a stilbenoid, a type of natural phenol or polyphenol and a phytoalexin produced by several plants in...
2006 book Hypersexuality Hypoactive sexual desire disorder Love potion Phytoestrogen Phytoandrogen Vyleesi Melnyk, John P.; Marcone, Massimo F. (May 2011)...
xanthohumol, which is converted by large intestine bacteria into the phytoestrogen 8-prenylnaringenin, which may have a relative binding affinity to estrogen...
and not backed by medical experts. Pueraria mirifica contains various phytoestrogens including deoxymiroestrol, daidzin, daidzein, genistin, genistein, coumestrol...
for its potential properties, while 8-prenylnaringenin is a potent phytoestrogen. Hops are usually dried in an oast house before they are used in the...
cycling, while pairing it with other cognitive tasks. Studies evaluating phytoestrogen, blueberry supplementation and antioxidants showed minor increases in...
and LDL cholesterol. Pinto beans have also been shown to contain the phytoestrogen coumestrol, which has a variety of possible health effects. Gallo pinto...
menopausal symptoms are genistein and daidzein, and are also known as phytoestrogens. The half life of these molecules is about eight hours, which might...
of high consumption of a specific type of yam containing a natural phytoestrogen which may stimulate the ovaries to release an egg from each side. In...
sugarcane, papaya and peanuts with viruses. In plants which produce the phytoestrogen coumestrol, such as alfalfa, damage by aphids is linked with higher...
(Cicer arietinum) and in other legumes. Biochanin A is classified as a phytoestrogen and has putative benefits in dietary cancer prophylaxis.[medical citation...
Miroestrol is a phytoestrogen, a plant-derived chemical that mimics the biological activity of the hormone estrogen. Miroestrol was first reportedly isolated...
properties, though more recent studies have shown that soy actually contains phytoestrogens which compete with estrogens in the male body and can block estrogenic...
system and not just the perineal area.[additional citation(s) needed] Phytoestrogens are plant derived compounds found in a wide variety of foods. Several...
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