Biochanin A is an
''O''-methylated isoflavone. It is a natural organic compound in the class of
phytochemical
Phytochemicals are naturally-occurring chemicals present in or extracted from plants. Some phytochemicals are nutrients for the plant, while others are metabolites produced to enhance plant survivability and reproduction.
The fields of ext ...
s known as flavonoids. Biochanin A can be found in
red clover
''Trifolium pratense'' (from Latin prātum, meaning meadow), red clover, is a herbaceous plant, herbaceous species of flowering plant in the bean family, Fabaceae. It is native to the Old World, but planted and naturalised in many other regions ...
in
soy
The soybean, soy bean, or soya bean (''Glycine max'') is a species of legume native to East Asia, widely grown for its edible bean. Soy is a staple crop, the world's most grown legume, and an important animal feed.
Soy is a key source of f ...
, in
alfalfa
Alfalfa () (''Medicago sativa''), also called lucerne, is a perennial plant, perennial flowering plant in the legume family Fabaceae. It is cultivated as an important forage crop in many countries around the world. It is used for grazing, hay, ...
sprouts, in
peanut
The peanut (''Arachis hypogaea''), also known as the groundnut, goober (US), goober pea, pindar (US) or monkey nut (UK), is a legume crop grown mainly for its edible seeds. It is widely grown in the tropics and subtropics by small and large ...
s, in
chickpea
The chickpea or chick pea (''Cicer arietinum'') is an annual plant, annual legume of the family (biology), family Fabaceae, subfamily Faboideae, cultivated for its edible seeds. Its different types are variously known as gram," Bengal gram, ga ...
(''Cicer arietinum'') and in other legumes.
Biochanin A is classified as a
phytoestrogen
A phytoestrogen is a plant-derived xenoestrogen (a type of estrogen produced by organisms other than humans) not generated within the endocrine system, but consumed by eating plants or manufactured foods. Also called a "dietary estrogen", it ...
and has putative benefits in dietary
cancer prophylaxis. It has also been found to be a weak
inhibitor
Inhibitor or inhibition may refer to:
Biology
* Enzyme inhibitor, a substance that binds to an enzyme and decreases the enzyme's activity
* Reuptake inhibitor, a substance that increases neurotransmission by blocking the reuptake of a neurotransmi ...
of
fatty acid amide hydrolase
Fatty-acid amide hydrolase 1 (FAAH) is a member of the serine hydrolase family of enzymes. It was first shown to break down anandamide (AEA), an ''N''-acylethanolamine (NAE) in 1993. In humans, it is encoded by the gene ''FAAH''.;
Function
...
''
in vitro
''In vitro'' (meaning ''in glass'', or ''in the glass'') Research, studies are performed with Cell (biology), cells or biological molecules outside their normal biological context. Colloquially called "test-tube experiments", these studies in ...
''.
Metabolism
The enzyme
biochanin-A reductase uses dihydrobiochanin A and NADP
+ to produce biochanin A, NADPH, and H
+. The enzyme
isoflavone-7-O-beta-glucoside 6"-O-malonyltransferase uses malonyl-CoA and biochanin A 7-O-β-
D-glucoside to produce CoA and biochanin A 7-O-(6-O-malonyl-β-
D-glucoside).
See also
*
List of phytochemicals in food
The following is a list of phytochemicals present in foods.
Terpenoids (isoprenoids)
Carotenoids ( tetraterpenoids)
''Carotenes''
orange pigments
* α-Carotene – to vitamin A: carrots, pumpkins, maize, tangerine, orange
* β-Carote ...
*
Prunetin
References
{{Estrogen-related receptor modulators
Aromatase inhibitors
O-methylated isoflavones
Phytoestrogens
Selective ERβ agonists
4-Methoxyphenyl compounds