What is Daidzein?

Daidzein is a natural substance from the isoflavone compound class. Typically in nature, it can be found in soy un mung beans. Due to daidzein structure similarities with estrogen, its main biological activity is being phytoestrogen. From Chinese traditional medicine, daidzein has been used for the treatment of:

• fever
• acute dysentery
• diarrhea
• diabetes
• cardiac disfunction
• liver failure
• and more.

However, nowadays medicinal chemists are exploring much broader and more complex use of daidzein.

Anticancer activity of Daidzein

Daidzein supplements have attracted high attention for their anti-cancer properties. Studies have shown that breast cancer is much less common in women from Asia compared to the rest of the world due to the high consumption of phytoestrogens.

Indeed, looking deeper in daidzein activity, scientists were able to identify at least two cellular pathways how it’s inhibiting the spread of breast cancer tissue. Moreover, metabolites of daidzein were found to be even more active and were able to inhibit MMP-2 and MMP-9 that are involved in the spread of cancer tissue.

On the other hand, daidzein was found to be able to induce other cellular pathways responsible for the apoptosis of cancer cells by changing the oxidative potential of cancer cells leading to the death of those cells.

Daidzein was found to also be effective against neuroblastoma, prostate, colon, and other types of cancer.

Daidzein to prevent cardiovascular diseases

Coronary heart disease, atherosclerosis, and other cardiovascular diseases could be classified as estrogen-related. And as hormone replacement therapy has not given a clear path in clinical trials, daidzein could show promise in such treatment for post-menopause women.

Scientists have identified, that daidzein is effective to reduce triglyceride levels for patients with high cholesterol, improving endothelium dysfunction by increasing NO bioabsorption, therefore, leading to vasodilatation. 

Apart from that, daidzein also exhibited excellent effects as a pretreatment for ischemia in rat models. Daidzein improved myocardial contractile dysfunction inhibited myocardial apoptosis and decreases myocardial infarct size.

Osteoporosis treatment with daidzein

A decrease in the density of bones especially for women during and post-menopause is a risk. However, as we mentioned, this deficiency could be treated with daidzein. 

Studies with daidzein showed, that it was able to inhibit bone resorption, promote bone mineralization and increase secretion of osteoprotegerins and RANK ligand, which are responsible for osteoblast differentiation and function. 

Scientists showed that similar effects have been observed in male rats as well, showing that daidzein could be a feasible treatment for male osteoporosis. 

Anti-diabetic effect of daidzein

Scientists are sure, that soy phytoestrogens play a significant role for patients with type-2 diabetes. Tests have shown, that indeed daidzein shows an anti-hyperglycemic effect by increasing blood sugar levels. 

Another group of scientists found that the anti-diabetic effect is also associated with my modulating liver glucose and lipid levels and metabolisms by the direct effect on corresponding enzymes.

Daidzein has also shown potential for patients with type-1 diabetes by promoting the health of pancreatic β-cells and insulin secretion while having no effect on glucagon in non-obese diabetic mice.

The anti-oxidative activity of daidzein

Like other flavones and isoflavones, daidzein due to its structure is considered to possess anti-oxidative properties. 

Scientists found that not only by directly absorbing reactive radical molecules, daidzein was also able to improve our body’s natural ability to fight oxidative stress and such.

In conclusion

Here we have discussed a wide variety of biological activities that daidzein possesses but that’s not only it. Scientists have also identified its anti-inflammatory, neuroprotective, and more and the research is still going strong. If you want to explore the possibilities of daidzein, visit our store for the high-quality products for you to buy.