Authors: Tatiana Valachovicova; Veronika Slivova; Daniel Sliva

Source: Mini Reviews in Medicinal Chemistry, Volume 4, Number 8, October 2004 , pp. 881-887(7)

Publisher: Bentham Science Publishers

Abstract:

Recent experimental and epidemiological studies have provided convincing evidence for a variety of health benefits derived from the consumption of soy and soy food products. For example, soy isoflavones are felt to protect against different cancers, cardiovascular disease, and bone loss. Many studies have demonstrated the effect of soy isoflavones on specific target molecules and signaling pathways, including but not limited to, cell proliferation and differentiation, cell cycle regulation, apoptosis, angiogenesis, cell adhesion and migration, metastasis, and activity of different enzymes. Isoflavones also share structural homologies with estrogens and are therefore classified as phytoestrogens with weak estrogenic properties. Since isoflavones bind to estrogen receptors (ER and ER), they are considered to be possible estrogen receptor modulators. However, isoflavones can also exert biological effects independent of their phytoestrogenic activities. Recent studies suggest beneficial health effects of soy and recommend increasing the intake of isoflavone-rich soy protein to the level of intake commonly used in Asian countries.

Keywords: soy; isoflavones; cancer; cardiovascular disease; osteoporosis; and signaling pathways

Document Type: Review article

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.2174/1389557043403387

Affiliations: 1: Cancer Research Laboratory, Methodist Research Institute, 1800 N. Capitol Ave., E504, Indianapolis, IN 46202, USA.

Publication date: 2004-10-01

More about this publication?

• The aim of Mini-Reviews in Medicinal Chemistry is to publish short reviews on the important recent developments in medicinal chemistry and allied disciplines.
  
  The scope of Mini-Reviews in Medicinal Chemistry will cover all areas of medicinal chemistry including developments in rational drug design, synthetic chemistry, bioorganic chemistry, high-throughput screening, combinatorial chemistry, drug targets, and natural product research and structure-activity relationship studies.
  
  Mini-Reviews in Medicinal Chemistry is an essential journal for every medicinal and pharmaceutical chemist who wishes to be kept informed and up-to-date with the latest and most important developments.

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