中药植物雌激素的研究进展

Research progress in phytoestrogens of traditional Chinese medicine

植物雌激素是与人体内源性雌激素17-β-雌二醇结构相似的植物来源的化合物,通过与雌激素受体结合而引起拟/抗雌激素作用。该文系统梳理了近年国内外已报道的植物雌激素相关文献,其化学成分主要为黄酮类、香豆素类、木脂素类、萜类、甾体类化合物等,具有防治围绝经期综合征、骨质疏松、心血管疾病、代谢性相关疾病、癌症及调节大脑功能等多种药理作用;其作用机制主要包括经典雌激素受体通路、表观遗传效应、激活5'-腺苷-磷酸激活蛋白激酶、抑制激酶、活化过氧化物酶体增殖物激活受体、调节凋亡相关的蛋白、抑制核因子κB信号通路等。植物雌激素按其功效主要分布在补虚药、活血化瘀药和清热药中,具有雌激素活性的经典名方主要为补益剂、理气药及和解剂等,该综述以期为科研人员和临床工作者进一步研究植物雌激素提供一定的参考。

Phytoestrogens are plant-derived compounds, which have a similarity in structure with human endogenous estrogen 17-β-estradiol. Structural likeness enables phytoestrogens to interact with estrogen receptors, not simply mimicking the effects of human steroidal estrogen but also exhibiting similar and divergent actions. The global literature relating to phytoestrogen in recent years was systematically summarized in this paper. Chemical compositions of phytoestrogens were mainly flavonoids, coumarins, lignans, terpenoids, steroids, etc., with a character of prevention and treatment of perimenopausal syndrome, osteoporosis, cardiovascular disease, metabolic diseases, cancer, regulation of brain function and other pharmacological effects. The mechanisms of action mainly included classical estrogen receptor pathway, epigenetic effect, activation of 5＇-adenosyl-phospho-activated protein kinase, inhibition of kinase, activation of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor, regulation of apoptosis-related proteins, inhibition of nuclear factor κB signaling pathway and so on. According to their efficacy classification, phytoestrogens were mainly distributed in the tonifying medicines, blood-activating and stasis-resolving medicines and heat-clearing medicines. The classical prescriptions with estrogen activity included tonifying formula, Qi-regulating formula and harmonizing formula, etc. This review was aimed at providing a certain reference for the further study of phytoestrogens by researchers and clinicians.