植物雌激素的研究进展

Research Advancement of Phytoestrogen

植物雌激素是一类天然杂环多酚类化合物。具有雌激素活性的中药种类很多,目前发现的活性单体成分主要包括四大类:黄酮类、木脂素类、香豆素类及二苯乙烯类。植物雌激素因具有与动物雌激素相似的化学结构和功效,可直接或间接作用于雌激素信号通路,具有一定的雌激素样或抗雌激素样的作用。动物雌激素对妇科癌症、骨质疏松症、心血管疾病、阿尔茨海默病等具有良好的治疗作用,但长期大量使用可产生一系列严重副作用;而植物雌激素可在发挥治疗作用的同时有效降低不良反应的发生。从植物雌激素的来源、化学成分、信号通路、药理作用等方面结合近年来的研究成果做一综述,以为其深入开发及合理应用提供理论依据。

Phytoestrogens are a kind of natural heterocyclic polyphenols.There are many kinds of Chinese traditional medicines with estrogenic activity.At present,the active monomers are mainly included in four categories:flavonoids,lignans,coumarins and stilbenes.Because of these aforementioned compounds chemical structure and efficacy similar to animal estrogen,they can directly or indirectly act on estrogen signaling pathway and have estrogen-like or anti-estrogen-like effects.Estrogen has a good therapeutic effect on gynecological cancer,osteoporosis,cardiovascular disease,alzheimer disease and so on.However,long term and high dose application of estrogen can be accompanied by a series of serious side effects.Phytoestrogen can play a therapeutic role while effectively reducing the occurrence of adverse reactions.In this paper,the sources,chemical components,signaling pathways and pharmacological effects of phytoestrogens are reviewed in order to provide a theoretical basis for further development and rational application of phytoestrogens.