Therapeutic Potential of Isoflavones with an Emphasis on Daidzein
Mohammed M. Alshehri, Javad Sharifi‐Rad, Jesús Herrera‐Bravo, Evelyn L. Jara, Luis A. Salazar, Dorota Kręgiel, Yadav Uprety, Muhammad Akram, Mehwish Iqbal, Miquel Martorell, Margalida Torrens‐Mas, Daniel Gabriel Pons, Sevgi Durna Daştan, Natália Martins, Fethi Ahmet Özdemir, Manoj Kumar, William C. Cho
Abstract
Daidzein is a phytoestrogen isoflavone found in soybeans and other legumes. The chemical composition of daidzein is analogous to mammalian estrogens, and it could be useful with a dual-directional purpose by substituting/hindering with estrogen and estrogen receptor (ER) complex. Hence, daidzein puts forth shielding effects against a great number of diseases, especially those associated with the control of estrogen, such as breast cancer, diabetes, osteoporosis, and cardiovascular disease. However, daidzein also has other ER-independent biological activities, such as oxidative damage reduction acting as an antioxidant, immune regulator as an anti-inflammatory agent, and apoptosis regulation, directly linked to its potential anticancer effects. In this sense, the present review is aimed at providing a deepen analysis of daidzein pharmacodynamics and its implications in human health, from its best-known effects alleviating postmenopausal symptoms to its potential anticancer and antiaging properties.