Table 1. Some plants used to treat women's health conditions and their major phytoestrogen(s).
| Plant origin (Latin name) | Major phytoestrogen(s) | Suggested use/condition |
| Black cohosh (Cimicifuga racemosa) | Actein, 23-epi-26-deoxyactein a | Enhanced fertility, premenstrual syndrome, menopausal symptoms; relieve menstrual cramps, aid amenorrhea and to ease labor |
| Chaste berry (Vitex agnus castus) | Casticin, isoorientin, apigenin, penduletin | Heavy menstrual bleeding, endometriosis, fertility problems |
| Citrus spp. | Naringenin, naringin | Weight gain during menopause |
| Flaxseed (Linum usitatissimum) | Enterodiol, enterolactone b | Heavy menstrual bleeding |
| Hop (Humulus lupulus) | 8-Prenylnaringenin, 6-prenylnaringenin, isoxantohumol | Breast enhancement, menopausal symptoms |
| Maca (Lepidium meyenii) | Campesterol, beta-sitosterol | Enhanced fertility and sexual behavior, menstrual problems |
| Red clover (Trifolium pratense) | Biochanin A, formononetin | Menopausal symptoms, including hot flashes |
| Soy (Glycine max) | Genistein, daidzein | Menopausal symptoms |
| Wild yam (Dioscorea villosa) | Diosgenin | Menstrual cramping, irregular menstrual cycles, pregnancy-related nausea and morning sickness |
| Ginseng (Panax ginseng) | Ginsenosides, naringenin, chlorogenic acid | Anti-ageing, cardioprotective |
| St John's wort (Hypericum perforatum) | (pseudo)Hypericin, quercetin, rutin | Premenstrual syndrome, menopausal symptoms |
| Grape (Vitis spp.), blueberry (Vaccinium spp.) | Resveratrol | Reduce hot flashes, cardioprotective, prevention of osteoporosis |
aExact phytoestrogen content is unclear. Although some earlier studies report the presence of formononetin in black cohosh extracts (BCE), most studies describe that formononetin could not be determined in BCE.11
bMammalian phytoestrogens which are formed upon conversion of plant lignans matairesinol and secoisolariciresinol by gut microbiota.12