Table 2.

Summary of physiological effects by soy isoflavones and saponins (includes in vitro and in vivo findings)

Soy bioactive	Interact with estrogen receptors	Anti-inflammatory properties	Anti-oxidative properties	Anti-viral properties	Anti-protozoal properties	Interact with intestinal epithelial junctions
Isoflavones	Yes; primarily estrogen receptor βa	Yes; inhibit tyrosin-specific protein kinase pathwaysb	Yes; inhibit NFκB activation, decrease lipid oxidation, and increase anti-oxidative enzyme activityc	Yes; reduce infectivity of rotavirus and herpes simplex virus in vitrod	No results found for soy isoflavones	Yes; decrease intestinal epithelial permeabilitye
Saponins	Yes; primarily estrogen receptor αf	No results found for soy saponins	Yes; inhibit NFκB activation, act as superoxide scavengerg	No results found for soy saponins	No results found for soy saponins	Yes; increase intestinal epithelial permeabilityh

^a Andres et al., 2009; Weihua et al., 2000.

^b Akiyama et al., 1987; Verdrengh et al., 2003.

^c Choi et al., 2003; Dia et al., 2008; Hämäläinen et al., 2007.

^d Akula et al., 2002; Andres et al., 2007.

^e Noda et al., 2012; Rao et al., 2002; Schmitz et al., 1999.

f Andres et al., 2009.

^g Francis et al., 2002; Kang et al., 2005.

^hJohnson et al., 1986.