Soy Isoflavones Extract

Latin name	Clycine max (L.) Merr
Other names	Soy Isoflavones, soybean isoflavones, Genistein, Genistin, Daidzein, Daidzin, Equol, Dihydrogenistein, Dihydroglycitein, Glycitein, Glycitin
Active ingredients	Soy isoflavones
Cas No	574-12-9
Appearance	Pale yellow powder
Specifications	Isoflavone 20%,40%,60%,80%
Test method	HPLC

What is Soy Isoflavones Extract?

Soy isoflavones occur naturally in soy beans and can be found in several soy-based foods such as miso, soy sauce, tofu, edamame, soy milk, soy butter,etc.

The term soy isoflavones refers to three molecules that are present in food, although most famously contained in soy products; this includes:Genistein, and its glycoside Genistin at 30-60% of total soy isoflavones ,Daidzein and its glycoside Daidzin at 40-60% of total soy isoflavones; Glycitein, and its glycoside Glycitin at around 1-13% of total isoflavones. Of these, genistein and daidzein are seen as the major components of soy due to their relative quantities.

Sources of isoflavones

Number	Plants (with botanic name)	Content of isoflavones
1	Alfalfa (Medicago sativa)	0.5-3.5%
2	Bean sprouts (Vigna radiata)	3.51mg/kg wet sample
3	Kudzu roots (Pueraria lobata)	0.95g/kg daidzein
4	Psoralea (Psoralea corylifolia)	2g/kg dry sample
5	Red clover (Trifolium pratense)	1.5-2.5%
6	Soy bean (Glycine max)	0.1-0.5%

There are several natural sources of isoflavones,such as Alfalfa (Medicago sativa), Bean sprouts (Vigna radiata), Kudzu roots (Pueraria lobata), Psoralea (Psoralea corylifolia), Red clover (Trifolium pratense), Soy bean (Glycine max), and etc. but the most important ones are soy bean and red clover. The Content of isoflavones are listed as below for your reference:

Red clover is a perennial plant with trifoliate leaves and pink to red flowers. The plant derives its name in part from its flowers, which are fragrant and can range in color from white to a dark red. Red clover is a member of the legume family and has been used worldwide as a source of hay for cattle, horses and sheep and by humans as a source of protein in the leaves and young sprouts. Red clover is also medicinal plant for human use.

The beneficial effect of red clover isoflavones are very similar to that found with soy flavones from isoflavones. Red clover will reduce menopausal symptoms. Red clover isoflavones help maintain the density of the bones in both menopausal and peri-menopausal women. Red clover isoflavones have not shown a cholesterol reducing effect, probably because soy proteins take an important role for the cholesterol reducing effect.

Isoflavones are present in relatively large amounts in virtually all soy products, with the exception of soy protein concentrate. Whole soy contains about 200 mg isoflavones per 100g. Soybeans contain three types of isoflavones in four chemical structures.

Soy isoflavones VS red clover isoflavones

As mentioned above, soy isoflavones and red isoflavones have some similar functions such as ease menopause symptoms and many other same benefits. However, are there any differences between Soy isoflavones and red clover isoflavones?

Before we tell the differences between red clove isoflavones and soybean isoflavones, we need to figure out what isoflavone is and the availability of natural botanical sources of isoflavones.

What are isoflavones?

Isoflavones are water-soluble chemicals found in many plants. According to Wikipedia, Isoflavones comprise a class of organic compounds, often naturally occurring, related to the isoflavonoids. Many act as phytoestrogens in mammals. Some are termed antioxidants because of their ability to trap singlet oxygen. Isoflavones are a structurally special group of flavonoids with the B-ring linked to the C-3 position of the C-ring. Isoflavones are known as phytoestrogens because they possess estrogen-like function, have attracted tremendous academic and commercial interest, especially in the last two decades.

Flavonoids are principally found in all types of higher plants. However, the distribution of isoflavones is largely restricted to the family Leguminoseae. Only few species have been reported as relatively rich in isoflavones, each with different isoflavone distribution patterns. The reported sources include alfalfa, bean sprouts (Vigna radiata), Kudzu Roots (Pueraria Lobata), Psoralea (Psoralea Corylifolia), Red Clover ( Trifolium Pratense), Soy Bean ( Glycine), and the examined content is listed as below:

Thefore: Let’s compare in two different ways:

	Red Clover	Soy bean
Extraction	It is easy for red clover to get extracted, sono  organic solvent is needed	The soybean isoflavones is the secondary metabolites during growth, it is hard to extract
Activity	The acitivity (by quality) of red clover is about one or two in 20,000 of that of estradiol(natural estrogen)	The acitivity (by quality) of soy bean is about one in 100,000 of that of estradiol(natural estradiol(natural estrogen)

Of course, the price differs as well. If you want to know more about red clover extract price, specification, certificate of analysis (COA) or soybean isoflavones, please kindly send email to us. Nutragreen bitechnology is the manufacturer and supplier of raw materials for nutral products,such as plant extracts, tradtional Chinese Herbs, botanicals, amino acids, etc.

Mechanism of action of soy isoflavones

How does soy isoflavones work? Yeah, everybody know it is isoflavones.
There are many proposed mechanisms for the therapeutic effect of isoflavones
The mechanisms include:
binding to estrogen receptors
inhibition of production of reactive oxygen species
induction of DNA strand breakage resulting in apoptosis or cell death
inhibition of angiogenesis
inhibition of thrombin formation and platelet activation
And increased LDL receptor activity

Benefits of taking soy isoflavones supplements

The consumption of soy products has many health benefits, including protection against breast cancer, prostate cancer, menopausal symptoms, heart disease and osteoporosis. Many of the health benefits of soy are derived from its isoflavones.

Ease menopause symptoms- The benefits of soy go beyond reducing long-term cancer risk.
Recent studies have found that soy isoflavones can reduce menopause symptomssuch as hot
flushesand increase bone density in women. Indeed, many menopausal and post-menopausal health problems may result from a lack of isoflavones in the typical Western diet. Although study results are not entirely consistent, isoflavones fromsoy or red clover may be helpful for symptoms of menopause. A study carried out by “Health Test” in 2004 investigated the prescription behavior of 27 doctors for women with menopause symptoms. It showed that isoflavones were recommended twice (44%) as often as hormonal treatment (22%). The prescribed supplements were mainly based on the following plants: soy, black cohosh and hops.

Ease menopause symptoms –Because of their chemical similarity to the female sex hormone estrogen, soy isoflavones provide an alternative for postmenopausal women who cannot tolerate conventional hormone replacement therapy for a variety of reasons. In a study of isoflavones’ effectiveness in treating menopausal symptoms, researchers at Italy’s University of Catania came up with mixed results. While the soy isoflavones produced a 40 percent reduction in vasomotor symptoms, such as hot flashes, and a lower incidence of insomnia and depression, they had little, if any, effect on menopause’s musculoskeletal pains and vaginal dryness. Results appeared in the February 2012 issue of “Minerva Ginecologica.”

Indeed, many menopausal and post-menopausal health problems may result from a lack of isoflavones in the typical Western diet. Although study results are not entirely consistent, isoflavones from soy or red clover may be helpful for symptoms of menopause. A study carried out by “Health Test” in 2004 investigated the prescription behaviour of 27 doctors for women with menopause symptoms. It showed that isoflavones were recommended twice (44%) as often as hormonal treatment (22%). The prescribed supplements were mainly based on the following plants: soy, black cohosh and hops.

Protect against prostate problems – Isoflavones may be benificial for men’s health because they may protect against enlargement of the male prostate gland. Studies show isoflavones slowed prostate cancer growth and caused prostate cancer cells to die. Isoflavones act against cancer cells in a way similar to many common cancer-treating drugs.
Isoflavones improve bone health – Soy Isoflavones help in the preservation of the bone substance and fight osteoporosis. This is the reason why people in China and Japan very rarely have osteoporosis, despite their low consumption of dairy products, whereas in Europe and North America the contrary happens. Unlike estrogen, which helps prevent the destruction of bone, evidence suggests that isoflavones may also assist in creating new bone. Other studies are not entirely consistent, but evidence suggests that genistein and other soy isoflavones can help prevent osteoporosis.

Help with Cardiovascular Disease

In experimental models, soy consumption has been shown to reduce cardiovascular disease and prevent LDL cholesterol oxidation?one of the main causes of the progressive hardening and blocking of arteries. Sirtori et al. reported that the substitution of soy protein for animal protein in the diets of hypercholesterolemic humans led to a marked decrease in the concentration of serum total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, and triglycerides without significantly affecting high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol concentrations.10 While soy consumption is known to reduce cholesterol in hypercholesterolemic subjects, a recent study showed that a high isoflavone diet consumed for three menstrual cycles (approximately 129 mg per day) lowered LDL cholesterol up to 10% and lowered the ratio of LDL to HDL cholesterol by 13.8% in premenopausal women with normal cholesterol levels.

Reduce cancer risk – Isoflavones seem to be protect agains tumors because they act against cancer cells in a way similar to many common cancer-treating drugs. Population-based studies show a strong association between consumption of isoflavones and a reduced risk of breast and endometrial cancer. Women who ate the most soy products and other foods rich in isoflavones reduced their risk of endometrial cancer by 54%.

Isoflavones are natural antioxidants

A recent study has demonstrated that isoflavones have potent antioxidant properties, comparable to that of the well known antioxidant vitamin E. The antioxidant powers of isoflavones can reduce the long-term risk of cancer by preventing free radical damage to DNA. Genistein is the most potent antioxidant among the soy isoflavones, followed by daidzein.