FOOD SCIENCE ›› 2011, Vol. 32 ›› Issue (1 ): 274-277.doi: 10.7506/spkx1002-6630-201101065

• Reviews • Previous Articles     Next Articles

Research Progress on Anti-carcinogenic Mechanism of Phytoestrogens

WEI Hua-bo1,2，MA Hai-rong2,*，WANG Zhen-hua1,*   

  1. 1. Key Laboratory of Xinjiang Endemic Phytomedicine Resources, Ministry of Education, College of Pharmacy, Shihezi University,
    Shihezi 832002, China；2. Key Laboratory of Plant Resources and Chemistry of Arid Zone, Xinjiang Technical Institute of
    Physics and Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Urumqi 830011, China
  • Received:2010-04-13 Revised:2010-12-09 Online:2011-01-15 Published:2010-12-28
  • Contact: MA Hai-rong2,*，WANG Zhen-hua1,* E-mail:zhenhuawang@tom.com；mhrsj@163.com

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Abstract:

Phytoestrogens are natural heterocyclic and phenolics compounds which are similar to estrogens structurally and functionally. Phytoestrogens have both estrogenic and anti-estrogenic activity, and have a two-way regulation ability and protective function from hormone-associated disease. In addition, experimental and epidemiological evidence has implied that phytoestrogens reduce the occurrence of cancer, and inhibit the growth and proliferation of tumor cells, including mammary cancer, prostate cancer, endometrial carcinoma, ovarian cancer, colon carcinoma, leukemia, and hepatic carcinoma and gastric cancer. However, the anti-tumor mechanism of phytoestrogens is still unclear. The review summarizes the current research progress on the role phytoestrogens plays in cancer prevention and tumor resistance and its mechanism. In our view, phytoestrogens are potential candidates to prevent and treat tumor.

Key words: phytoestrogens, tumor metastasis, angiogenesis, apoptosis, antioxidant

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