Phytoandrogens are substances produced in
plants which have effects similar to
testosterone
Testosterone is the primary sex hormone and anabolic steroid in males. In humans, testosterone plays a key role in the development of Male reproductive system, male reproductive tissues such as testes and prostate, as well as promoting secondar ...
in
animals.
Examples
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Triterpenoids
Triterpenes are a class of chemical compounds composed of three terpene units with the molecular formula C30H48; they may also be thought of as consisting of six isoprene units. Animals, plants and fungi all produce triterpenes, including squale ...
from the
Eucommia ulmoides tree can act as phytoandrogens.
*
Drupanol
Drupanol is a naturally occurring phenol and phytoandrogen that has been isolated from the seeds of '' Psoralea drupaceae''. Although drupanol is sometimes said to be the same compound as bakuchiol, the two compounds are in fact distinct; they h ...
is a phytoandrogen.
* ''
Tribulus terrestris''
*
Brazilian Ginseng
''Hebanthe erianthos'' (many synonyms, including ''Iresine erianthos'' and ''Pfaffia paniculata''), known as suma or Brazilian ginseng, is a species of plant in the family Amaranthaceae. The specific epithet is also spelt "''eriantha''", althou ...
Environmental effects
Phytoandrogens have been implicated in sex-reversal in fish.
See also
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Phytoestrogen
A phytoestrogen is a plant-derived xenoestrogen (see estrogen) not generated within the endocrine system, but consumed by eating plants or manufactured foods. Also called a "dietary estrogen", it is a diverse group of naturally occurring nonstero ...
*
Plant hormone
Plant hormone (or phytohormones) are signal molecules, produced within plants, that occur in extremely low concentrations. Plant hormones control all aspects of plant growth and development, from embryogenesis, the regulation of organ size, pa ...
References
{{Androgen receptor modulators
Androgens and anabolic steroids
Phytochemicals