Genistein: An Integrative Overview of Its Mode of Action, Pharmacological Properties, and Health Benefits

Genistein is an isoflavone first isolated from the brooming plant Dyer’s Genista tinctoria L. and is widely distributed in the Fabaceae family. As an isoflavone, mammalian genistein exerts estrogen-like functions. Several biological effects of genistein have been reported in preclinical studies, such as the antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, and antiviral activities, the effects of angiogenesis and estrogen, and the pharmacological activities on diabetes and lipid metabolism. The purpose of this review is to provide up-to-date evidence of preclinical pharmacological activities with mechanisms of action, bioavailability, and clinical evidence of genistein. The literature was researched using the most important keyword “genistein” from the PubMed, Science, and Google Scholar databases, and the taxonomy was validated using The Plant List. Data were also collected from specialized books and other online resources. The main positive effects of genistein refer to the protection against cardiovascular diseases and to the decrease of the incidence of some types of cancer, especially breast cancer. Although the mechanism of protection against cancer involves several aspects of genistein metabolism, the researchers attribute this effect to the similarity between the structure of soy genistein and that of estrogen. This structural similarity allows genistein to displace estrogen from cellular receptors, thus blocking their hormonal activity. The pharmacological activities resulting from the experimental studies of this review support the traditional uses of genistein, but in the future, further investigations are needed on the efficacy, safety, and use of nanotechnologies to increase bioavailability and therapeutic efficacy.

Findings to the flora of Russia and adjacent countries: New national and regional vascular plant records, 3

With this paper we continue a new annual series, the main purpose of which is to make significant floristic findings from Russia and neighboring countries more visible in Russia and abroad. In total, this paper presents new records for 38 vascular plant species from 7 Eurasian countries, obtained during field explorations, as well as during taxonomic revisions of herbarium materials. For the first time, new locality of Rochelia bungei is recorded for Europe and West Kazakhstan Region of Kazakhstan, Arnebia obovata for China and Kazakhstan, A. olgae for China, Ballota nigra for Kazakhstan and the Asian part of Russia, Potentilla chalchorum, P. tschimganica and P. doujonneana for Kyrgyzstan, Lappula heteracantha for Tajikistan, Hedysarum talassicum for Uzbekistan, Linaria grjunerae, Silene cserei for Siberia, Dianthus × courtoisii, Genista tinctoria, Verbascum phoeniceum for Eastern Siberia, Drosera × obovata, Pseudopodospermum strictum, Trollius austrosibiricus for the Altai Republic, Diarthron linifolium for the Republic of Buryatia, Dactylorhiza iberica, Epipactis condensata for the Republic of Daghestan, Platycladus orientalis for the Kabardino- Balkarian Republic, Diphasiastrum × zeilleri for the Republic of Mordovia, Typha latifolia for the Magadan Region, Senecio viscosus for the Novosibirsk Region, Solanum physalifolium for the Omsk Region, Echinops exaltatus for the Middle Volga, Lavandula angustifolia for the Samara Region, Galium affrenum for the Saratov Region, Bidens frondosa, Elatine triandra, Eleocharis klingei, Jacobaea grandidentata, Rhinanthus songaricus and Vicia megalotropis for the Tyumen Region, Bunias cochlearioides, Thalictrum ussuriense for the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region of China, Isoëtes echinospora for the Yamal-Nenets Autonomous Area, Potentilla × bishkekensis for Issyk-Kul and Osh Regions of Kyrgyzstan.

The Production of Isoflavones by Genista tinctoria L. In Vitro Culture after Two Vanadium Compounds Application. Possible Transport Mechanism of Secondary Metabolites through Plasma Membrane

Family Fabaceae traditionally serves as food and herbal remedies source. Several plants are already used for menopausal symptoms treatment based on a presence of typical secondary metabolites, isoflavones. Beside soybean and clovers, isoflavones could be produced by other plants or in vitro cultures. This type of production can be further enhanced by elicitation that stimulates metabolites biosynthesis via stress reaction. Vanadium compounds have been already described as potential elicitors and the aim of this study was to determine an impact of NH4VO3 and VOSO4 solutions on isoflavones production in Genista tinctoria L. cell cultures. The significant increase of isoflavones content such as genistin, genistein or formononetin was measured in a nutrient medium or dry mass after NH4VO3 treatment for 24 or 48 hours. The possible transport mechanism of isoflavones was also evaluated. An incubation with different transport inhibitors prior elicitation took effect on isoflavones content in the medium. However, there was non-ended result for particular metabolites such as genistein and daidzein, where ABC or alternatively MATE proteins can participate. Possible elicitation by some inhibitors was also discussed as result of their pleiotropic effect. Despite this outcome, the determining of transport mechanism is important step for identification of specific transporter.

Natural and safe dyeing of curing clothing intended for patients with dermatoses

Introduction. The Institute of Natural Fibers and Medicinal Plants has been carrying out complex research connected with application of natural dyes on knitted fabrics and fabrics. The paper presents the results of the part of the research conducted at the Institute, related to the Project BIOAKOD – Bioactive curing clothing based on natural fibers. Aim. The aim of the project’s task 3 was to develop organic cotton and knitted linen dyeing technology using the extracts obtained from plants. Material and methods. Plant extracts depending on the content of active substances and their precious ingredients they can have the following properties: medicinal, soothing, moistening, anti-inflammatory, regenerative, antiviral, antifungal, antioxidant and protection against UV radiation. Several plants were tested during the project realization. Finally, were obtained the extracts from the following plants: Madder Rubia tinctorium L., Dyer’s greenweed Genista tinctoria L, Weld Reseda luteola L., Dyer's coreopsis Coreopsis tinctoria L., Oak Gall Quercus infectoria Oliv, Chebulic Myrobalan Terminalia chebula L. Results. In the final phase the 9 colours were chosen. The dyeing was performed in semi-industrial conditions in the factory Marko-Kolor. The registered patent is also the effect of this project grant. Conclusions. The interesting range of colours was achieved, and tested extracts showed healing properties.

Application of Hydrophilic Interaction Liquid Chromatography for the Quantification of Flavonoids inGenista tinctoriaExtract

Hydrophilic interaction chromatography (HILIC) was employed to investigate chromatographic behavior of selected flavonoids from their different subgroups differing in polarity. Chromatographic measurements were performed on two different HILIC columns: unmodified silica (Atlantis-HILIC) and zwitterionic sulfoalkylbetaine (SeQuant ZIC-HILIC). Separation parameters such as content and type of organic modifier were studied. On ZIC column retention factors were observed to be inversely proportional to the buffer content in the mobile phase, which is the typical partitioning mechanism. In the case of bare silica column more or less apparent dual retention mechanism was observed, depending on the water component content in the mobile phase. ZIC-HILIC showed better selectivity (in comparison to silica column) with the detection limit of 0.01 mg/L (only for rutin was 0.05 mg/L). Finally, this chromatographic procedure was validated and applied for the determination of some flavonoids inGenista tinctoriaL. extract.