Pharmacy on Web

14 April 2010

Researchers at the Jichi Medical University in Japan have taken to heart the idea that women are looking for safer alternatives to side effect and long-term risk ridden HRT drugs.
The researchers turned to plant extracts with oestrogenic activity such as daidzein, genistein, cournestrol, resveratrol and glycitein. They investigated the effects ofthese natural substances on cell growth, cell cycle, apoptosis (healthy/programmed cell death)and various cell receptor sights (including breast cancer cells). From the findings of their study, published in the Journal of Nutritional Bio-chemistry, the researchers conclude that because resveratrol stimulated the transcription of endogenous oestrogen receptor (ER) and proapoptotic effects, this phytoestrogen is the most promising candidate as an HRT alternative and chemopreventive reagent for breast cancer