Main Isoflavones Found in Dietary Sources as Natural Anti-inflammatory Agents

Title:Main Isoflavones Found in Dietary Sources as Natural Anti-inflammatory Agents

Volume: 19 Issue: 7

Author(s): Corina Danciu*, Stefana Avram, Ioana Zinuca Pavel, Roxana Ghiulai, Cristina Adriana Dehelean, Alexa Ersilia, Daliana Minda, Cristina Petrescu*, Elena-Alina Moaca and Codruta Soica

Affiliation:

• Department of Pharmacognosy, University of Medicine and Pharmacy "Victor Babes", Eftimie Murgu Square, No. 2, 300041 Timisoara,Romania

• Department of Microbiology, Discipline of Hygiene , University of Medicine and Pharmacy "Victor Babes", Eftimie Murgu Square, No. 2, 300041 Timisoara,Romania

Keywords: Inflammation, genistein, daidzein, glycitein, biochanin A, formononetin, equol, angiogenesis.

Abstract: Background: Isoflavones are natural compounds belonging to the class of isoflavonoids, molecules with a chemical structure based on the 3-phenyl chromen-4-one backbone. As a particular element, the isoflavones are also called phytoestrogens, due to the structural similarity with 17-β estradiol, the primary female sex hormone, presenting both estrogen-agonist and estrogen-antagonist properties. This class of secondary plant metabolites has been extensively reported in the literature for a wide range of therapeutic activities including antioxidant, chemopreventive, anti-inflammatory, antiallergic, antibacterial, and cardio preventive effects.

Objective: To sum up the latest information regarding the main isoflavones found in dietary sources as natural anti-inflammatory agents.

Results: The review updates with the recent research about genistein, daidzein, glycitein, biochanin A, formononetin and equol as anti-inflammatory phytocompounds. As a particular element, the implications of these isoflavones in the link between inflammation and angiogenesis are also discussed.

Conclusion: The review concludes that the main isoflavones in dietary sources display in vitro and/or in vivo anti inflammatory potential by activating various biochemical and molecular mechanisms. The depicted findings translated into practical aspects strengthen the idea that the isoflavones genistein, daidzein, glycitein, biochanin A, formononetin and equol can be used in various inflammation based diseases as an alternative source for classical medication and that consummation of foods rich in isoflavones may represent prerequisite use in order to prevent the evolution of inflammation based diseases.

Cite this article as:

Danciu Corina*, Avram Stefana, Pavel Zinuca Ioana, Ghiulai Roxana, Dehelean Adriana Cristina, Ersilia Alexa, Minda Daliana, Petrescu Cristina*, Moaca Elena-Alina and Soica Codruta, Main Isoflavones Found in Dietary Sources as Natural Anti-inflammatory Agents, Current Drug Targets 2018; 19 (7) . https://dx.doi.org/10.2174/1389450118666171109150731