Estrogenic Prenylated Flavonoids in <i>Sophora flavescens</i>
<i>Sophora flavescens</i> is a medicinal herb distributed widely in Japan and it has been used to treat various diseases and symptoms. To explore its pharmacological use, we examined the estrogenic activity of four prenylated flavonoids, namely kurarinone, kushenols A and I, and sophoraf...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2024-02-01
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| Series: | Genes |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4425/15/2/204 |
| _version_ | 1797298125270941696 |
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| author | Kentaro Nishi Ikumi Imamura Kenichiro Hoashi Ryoiti Kiyama Shinji Mitsuiki |
| author_facet | Kentaro Nishi Ikumi Imamura Kenichiro Hoashi Ryoiti Kiyama Shinji Mitsuiki |
| author_sort | Kentaro Nishi |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | <i>Sophora flavescens</i> is a medicinal herb distributed widely in Japan and it has been used to treat various diseases and symptoms. To explore its pharmacological use, we examined the estrogenic activity of four prenylated flavonoids, namely kurarinone, kushenols A and I, and sophoraflavanone G, which are characterized by the lavandulyl group at position 8 of ring A, but have variations in the hydroxyl group at positions 3 (ring C), 5 (ring A) and 4’ (ring B). These prenylated flavonoids were examined via cell proliferation assays using sulforhodamine B, Western blotting, and RT-PCR, corresponding to cell, protein, and transcription assays, respectively, based on estrogen action mechanisms. All the assays employed here found weak but clear estrogenic activities for the prenylated flavonoids examined. Furthermore, the activities were inhibited by an estrogen receptor antagonist, suggesting that the activities were likely being mediated by the estrogen receptors. However, there were differences in the activity, attributable to the hydroxyl group at position 4’, which is absent in kushenol A. While the estrogenic activity of kurarinone and sophoraflavanone G has been reported before, to the best of our knowledge, there are no such reports on kushenols A and I. Therefore, this study represents the first report of their estrogenic activity. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-07T22:31:21Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-213f9a5a1ddc40ffb444dbdec4b88ea7 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2073-4425 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-07T22:31:21Z |
| publishDate | 2024-02-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Genes |
| spelling | doaj.art-213f9a5a1ddc40ffb444dbdec4b88ea72024-02-23T15:17:49ZengMDPI AGGenes2073-44252024-02-0115220410.3390/genes15020204Estrogenic Prenylated Flavonoids in <i>Sophora flavescens</i>Kentaro Nishi0Ikumi Imamura1Kenichiro Hoashi2Ryoiti Kiyama3Shinji Mitsuiki4Faculty of Life Science, Kyushu Sangyo University, Fukuoka 813-8503, JapanFaculty of Life Science, Kyushu Sangyo University, Fukuoka 813-8503, JapanFaculty of Life Science, Kyushu Sangyo University, Fukuoka 813-8503, JapanFaculty of Life Science, Kyushu Sangyo University, Fukuoka 813-8503, JapanFaculty of Life Science, Kyushu Sangyo University, Fukuoka 813-8503, Japan<i>Sophora flavescens</i> is a medicinal herb distributed widely in Japan and it has been used to treat various diseases and symptoms. To explore its pharmacological use, we examined the estrogenic activity of four prenylated flavonoids, namely kurarinone, kushenols A and I, and sophoraflavanone G, which are characterized by the lavandulyl group at position 8 of ring A, but have variations in the hydroxyl group at positions 3 (ring C), 5 (ring A) and 4’ (ring B). These prenylated flavonoids were examined via cell proliferation assays using sulforhodamine B, Western blotting, and RT-PCR, corresponding to cell, protein, and transcription assays, respectively, based on estrogen action mechanisms. All the assays employed here found weak but clear estrogenic activities for the prenylated flavonoids examined. Furthermore, the activities were inhibited by an estrogen receptor antagonist, suggesting that the activities were likely being mediated by the estrogen receptors. However, there were differences in the activity, attributable to the hydroxyl group at position 4’, which is absent in kushenol A. While the estrogenic activity of kurarinone and sophoraflavanone G has been reported before, to the best of our knowledge, there are no such reports on kushenols A and I. Therefore, this study represents the first report of their estrogenic activity.https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4425/15/2/204estrogenic activityprenylated flavonoidcell signaling pathwayestrogen responsegene expression |
| spellingShingle | Kentaro Nishi Ikumi Imamura Kenichiro Hoashi Ryoiti Kiyama Shinji Mitsuiki Estrogenic Prenylated Flavonoids in <i>Sophora flavescens</i> Genes estrogenic activity prenylated flavonoid cell signaling pathway estrogen response gene expression |
| title | Estrogenic Prenylated Flavonoids in <i>Sophora flavescens</i> |
| title_full | Estrogenic Prenylated Flavonoids in <i>Sophora flavescens</i> |
| title_fullStr | Estrogenic Prenylated Flavonoids in <i>Sophora flavescens</i> |
| title_full_unstemmed | Estrogenic Prenylated Flavonoids in <i>Sophora flavescens</i> |
| title_short | Estrogenic Prenylated Flavonoids in <i>Sophora flavescens</i> |
| title_sort | estrogenic prenylated flavonoids in i sophora flavescens i |
| topic | estrogenic activity prenylated flavonoid cell signaling pathway estrogen response gene expression |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4425/15/2/204 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT kentaronishi estrogenicprenylatedflavonoidsinisophoraflavescensi AT ikumiimamura estrogenicprenylatedflavonoidsinisophoraflavescensi AT kenichirohoashi estrogenicprenylatedflavonoidsinisophoraflavescensi AT ryoitikiyama estrogenicprenylatedflavonoidsinisophoraflavescensi AT shinjimitsuiki estrogenicprenylatedflavonoidsinisophoraflavescensi |