Effects of three flavonoids from an ancient traditional Chinese medicine Radix puerariae on geriatric diseases

Abstract

As the worldwide population ages, the morbidity of neurodegenerative, cardiovascular, cerebrovascular, and endocrine diseases, such as diabetes and osteoporosis, continues to increase. The etiology of geriatric diseases is complex, involving the interaction of genes and the environment, which makes effective treatment challenging. Traditional Chinese medicine, unlike Western medicine, uses diverse bioactive ingredients to target multiple signaling pathways in geriatric diseases. Radix puerariae is one of the most widely used ancient traditional Chinese medicines and is also consumed as food. This review summarizes the evidence from in vivo and in vitro studies of the pharmacological effects of the main active components of the tuber of Radix puerariae on geriatric diseases.

Introduction

Aging is the most important risk factor for most chronic diseases. The life expectancy worldwide has been accompanied by an ascending frequency in the prevalence of age-related diseases. Aging-associated diseases include atherosclerosis and cardiovascular disease, hypertension, cancer, arthritis, osteoporosis, Alzheimer's disease (AD), and Parkinson's disease (PD) due to the deterioration of the circulatory system, metabolic function, and immune system. The etiology of geriatric diseases is complicated, involving the interaction of genes and the environment, which makes effective treatment challenging. Traditional Chinese medicine has its own advantages, containing diverse bioactive ingredients to target multiple signaling pathways in geriatric diseases.[1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10]

Radix puerariae is one of the first medicinal herbs used in ancient China. The oldest Chinese written reference of the use of kudzu is described in classical poetry (Shih Ching), where it is described as a medicinal herb in the Divine Husbandman's Classic of Chinese Materia Medica (Shen Nong Ben Cao Jing). It was used for the relief of fever, diarrhea, and emesis. It is also mentioned in the Treatise on Fevers (Shang Han Lun) as a treatment of neck stiffness, lack of perspiration, and aversion to air drafts.[11] The Pharmacopoeia of the People's Republic of China describes R. pueraria as cool in nature, sweet and acrid in taste, and used to promote Spleen Yang to arrest diarrhea, encourage the production of body fluids, and indicated for the treatment of fever, acute dysentery, diarrhea, thirst, diabetes, and hypertension. In recent decades, the phytochemistry and pharmacological activities of constituents isolated from R. pueraria have been found to include effects on geriatric cerebrovascular, cardiovascular, and neurodegenerative diseases such as diabetes, hypertension, and hyperlipidemia. Its pharmacological effects include vascular dilation, heart and nerve protection, and antioxidant, anticancer, anti-inflammatory, and analgesic activity. It also promotes bone formation, suppresses alcohol intake, and decreases insulin resistance.[12,13,14,15,16,17] As the population ages, the morbidity of age-related diseases continues to increase. This review summarizes and discusses the pharmacology and mechanisms of the main active components of R. pueraria and its clinical applications in geriatric disease.

Constituents

Radix puerariae, also known as Gegen (Chinese name), kudzu root, Yegen or Kudzu vine root, is the dried root of Radix puerariae (Wild.) Ohwi and belongs to family Fabaceae. It grows in humid regions, monsoon forests, and coastal tracts. It is a twining perennial woody herb native to China, Korea, Japan, India, and the United States. In China, Radix puerariae is distributed throughout Henan, Hunan, Zhejiang, and Sichuan provinces.

Radix puerariae contains 20% to 25% starch, flavonoids, isoflavones, terpenoids, steroids the essential amino acids, lysine, phenylalanine, threonine, isoleucine, and leucine and other components. The steroid components include stigmasterol, β-sitosterol, and β-sitosterol-β-D-glc (daucosterol). The main active components are isoflavones including glycosides and aglycones [Figure 1]. High-performance liquid chromatography of R. pueraria tuber extract has identified flavonoids such as puerarin, daidzein, and genistein[18] as well as tuberosin, 4-methoxypuerarin, hydroxytuberosone, quercetin, biochanin A, biochanin B, irisolidon, tectoridin, robinin, and glycosides (C-glycoside 40, 6-diacetyl puerarin). Puerarin, an active isoflavone, is the most abundant secondary metabolite in R. pueraria, and is present at 1.88%–2.55% (w/w).[11] Such a high content of an active compound in a medicinal plant is rare.[19] Puerarin and its activities have been extensively studied because of its content in R. pueraria. Daidzein, and its 7-O-glycoside derivative daidzein were originally identified in soybeans and later in Yage and Fenge in w/w concentrations of 0.05%–0.47%.[11] Genistein and its 7-O-glycoside genistein are 5-hydroxylation products of daidzein and daidzin are additional isoflavones in Yege or Gegen, but are present in smaller amounts than daidzin and daidzein.[11] The effects of puerarin, genistein, and daidzein in geriatric diseases are shown in Table 1 and are reviewed below.

Figure 1.

The structure of five main isoflavones in radix puerariae

Table 1.

Anti-aging effects and mechanisms of the components of Radix puerariae

Component	Effects	Mechanisms
Puerarin	Alzheimer’s disease	Antioxidant
	Parkinson disease	Increases the expression of TH and decreases the expression of GFAP; ameliorated MPTP-induced ROS formation
	Ischemic stroke	Decreases the level of serum vWF and sTM; increases the expression of BDNF and activates PI3K/AKT and MAPK/ERK signaling pathways
	Vascular dementia	Antioxidant
	Myocardial hypertrophy	Through (AMPK)/target of rapamycin (mTOR)-mediated signaling pathway; inhibits activation of the redox-sensitive p38 and the NF-κB pathway; blocks Rac1-dependent NADPH oxidase activation; blocks PI3K/Akt and JNK signaling pathways
	Hypertension	Improves EDR; increases the phosphorylation of eNOS and decreases the expression of gp91phox, p22phox, TGFβ1, and VCAM-1; reduces the expression of TGF-β and Smad3 mRNA and increases the expression of Smad7 mRNA
	Angina pectoris	Inhibits the expression of the protein and mRNA levels of CRP
	Acute myocardial ischemia	Decreases the upregulation of P2X3 mRNA and protein levels; opens the calcium-activated potassium channel and activates protein kinase C; increases NO concentration; antioxidant
	Diabetic retinopathy	Alleviates cell apoptosis; attenuates IL-1β-mediated leukostasis
	Diabetic nephropathy	Regulates the expression of glomerular extracellular matrix
	Osteoporosis	Promotes the serological level of osteocalcin, BMSC proliferation, the expression of ALP, and suppresses the serological level of adiponectin and adiposity
	Hyperlipidemia	Enhances the expression of 7alpha-hydroxylase (CYP7A1) mRNA and promotion of cholesterol and bile acids excretion in liver
	Digestive system cancer	Induces the loss of MMP and generation of ROS
	Breast cancer	Downregulates MDR1 expression
Genistein	Ischemic stroke	Antioxidant; enhances eNOS phosphorylation/activation and NO-mediated thiol modification of Keap1; decreases thromboxane A2 concentration and leukocyte-platelet aggregates production
	Myocardial hypertrophy	Regulates the MTA3/TAK1/MKK4/JNK signaling pathway
	Hypertension	Regulates the activity of eNOS and reverse endothelial dysfunction
	Diabetes	Improves islet cell survival and proliferation and facilitates insulin production; activates the cAMP/PKA-dependent extracelluar ERK1/2 signaling pathway; antioxidant; improves high glucose-impaired intracellular cAMP production and PKA activity
	Osteoporosis	Improves the balance between RANKL and its decoy receptor OPG
	Hyperlipidemia	Upregulates the expression of hepatic LDL receptor, estrogen receptor α(ERα), and ERβ mRNAs; lowers the levels of the plasma lipid and vWF
	Digestive system cancer	Inhibits phosphorylation of AKT and induces the mitochondrial pathway of apoptosis; inhibits β-catenin target genes
	Reproductive system cancer	Suppresses EMT and the migration capacities of BG-1 ovarian cancer cells via ER signaling and the downregulation of TGF-β signal
	Breast cancer	Activates ATR kinase and BRCA1 complex; downregulates microRNA-155
Daidzein	Hyperlipidemia	Enhances the cholesterol homeostasis genetic program; inhibits the activity of pancreatic lipase and lipoprotein lipase and the differentiation of rat preadipocytes
	Diabetes	Activates AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK)

TH: Tyrosine hydroxylase, GFAP: Glial fibrillary acidic protein, MPTP: 1-Methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine, ROS: Reactive oxygen species, vWF: von Willebrand factor, sTM: Thrombomodulin, BDNF: Brain-derived neurotrophic factor, AMPK: 5’-adenosine monophosphate kinase, CRP: C-reactive protein, BMSC: Bone marrow stromal cell, ALP: Alkaline phosphatase, MMP: Matrix-metalloproteinases, OPG: Osteoprotegerin, EMT: Epithelial-mesenchymal transition, JNK: Jun N-terminal kinase, EDR: Endothelium-dependent relaxation, ATR: Ataxia telangiectasia-mutated and Rad3-related, NOS: Nitric oxide synthase, RANKL: Receptor activator of NF-κB ligand, TNF: Tumor necrosis factor, IL: Interleukin

Puerarin Effects on Aging-Related Diseases

Neurodegenerative diseases

Neurodegenerative diseases involve the continuing deterioration and loss of neurons or the myelin sheath, ultimately resulting in neurological dysfunction. Neuron loss progresses with aging. Consequently, advancing age in itself contributes to the increasing risk of disorders such as Alzheimer's and PDs.

Oxidative stress is involved in the pathogenesis of AD. Intracerebroventricular administration of puerarin in a mouse model of sporadic AD protected against learning and memory disability. Puerarin increased the activities of glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) and decreased that of malondialdehyde (MDA).[20] It also acted as an intracellular reactive oxidation species (ROS) scavenger. In amyloid precursor protein/presenilin-1 (APP/PS1) mice, an established AD model, oral puerarin resulted in a significant decrease in lipid peroxidation (LPO) and reduction in cognitive impairment. Puerarin has been associated with induction of heme oxygenase 1 (HO-1) in the hippocampus.[21] In a cytoplasmic cell hybrid (cybrid) cell AD model, it protected neurons against oxidative stress-induced apoptosis by downregulating the Bax/Bcl-2 expression ratio, which blocked the activation of the c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK), p38, and caspase-3.[22]

PD is a degenerative disorder characterized by apoptosis or necrosis of dopaminergic motor neurons in the substantia nigra. In a mouse PD model, puerarin increased spontaneous activity and travel distance in an open field assessment associated with increased tyrosine hydroxylase expression and decreased expression of the glial fibrillary acidic protein.[23] In other mouse PD models, puerarin inhibited 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP)-induced dopaminergic neuronal degeneration by modulating the expression of glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor expression, the PI3K/Akt pathway, and glutathione (GSH) activation. The reduction in MPTP-induced ROS formation and lysosome-associated membrane protein (Lamp) 2A expression protected against cell loss.[24,25] In SH-SY5Y human neuroblastoma cells, puerarin protected against MPP (+)-induced apoptosis by regulating the activity of the ubiquitin-proteasome system.[26] The available evidence from animal models shows that antioxidant and antiapoptosis activities of puerarin protect neurons against damage in dementia and PD.

Cerebrovascular disease

Puerarin has been shown to decrease the morbidity of ischemic stroke. A clinical study in 45 patients with acute cerebral infarction found that puerarin plus aspirin decreased serum von Willebrand factor (vWF) and thrombomodulin (sTM), and was protective against damage to the vascular endothelium.[12] It improved neurological function, decreased infarct volume, and increased peri-infarct collateral vessel density in an experimental rat model.[27] Puerarin accelerated the recovery of brain function in a rat cerebral ischemia/reperfusion model. It inhibited astrocyte apoptosis, possibly by modulating the expression of apoptosis-related factors, brain-derived neurotrophic factor, and activating phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase/protein kinase B (PI3K/Akt), and mitogen-activated protein kinase/extracellular regulated protein kinase (MAPK/ERK) signaling.[28]

Puerarin has also been evaluated preclinically in an animal ischemia/reperfusion model where it decreased MDA, nitric oxide (NO), nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin (IL)-1 β, and IL-6 produced in response to oxidative stress and inflammation. It also increased the expression of growth factors including vascular endothelial growth factor, erythropoietin, erythropoietin receptor, and growth-associated protein-43. Physiological effects included improved recovery of neurological functions and neurovascular protection resulting from the anti-oxidative and anti-inflammatory activity.[29] Ischemic stroke is complicated by vascular dementia, which has a significant impact on the quality of life of the elderly. Puerarin improved impaired learning and memory functions in a rat model of vascular dementia induced by chronic ischemia. It was associated with decreased MDA content, restoration of GSH-Px activity and total thiol concentration, increased cell viability, reduced apoptosis, and ROS generation. Puerarin also upregulated nuclear respiratory factor 2 (Nrf2), and forkhead box protein (Fox) O1, FoxO3, and FoxO4.[30] The combination of salvianolic acid-B and puerarin was more neuroprotective than either compound alone, which may prove significant in the treatment of ischemic stroke.[31] Puerarin is often used to treat headache, dizziness, stiff neck, tinnitus, limb paralysis, and other symptoms in patients with hypertensive encephalopathy. It is often used in conjunction with other antihypertensive drugs.

Cardiovascular disease

Aging is accompanied by many changes in the cardiovascular system, including systolic hypertension, increased central vascular stiffness, and increased pulse pressure. Recently, puerarin injection has become widely used to treat coronary heart disease and angina pectoris. The effect of puerarin on paroxysmal chest pain or chest discomfort, myocardial ischemia associated with angina pectoris has been clinically evaluated. In a series of 388 patients, puerarin injection was more effective than danshen, a widely used antiangina prescription in China, for control of angina symptoms, without clinically significant adverse reactions.[32] Two meta-analyses and a systematic review found that combining puerarin with conventional Western medicines improved the treatment of unstable angina pectoris.[33,34] However, the finding should be interpreted with caution because of the very low methodological quality of studies and potential publication bias. A more rigorously designed, the randomized double-blind placebo-controlled trial is needed to confirm the findings.

Puerarin was also reported to inhibit the expression of C-reactive protein and mRNA in lipopolysaccharide-induced peripheral blood mononuclear cells isolated from patients with unstable angina pectoris. Puerarin inhibited the NF-κB signaling pathway.[35] Puerarin activity has also been extensively investigated in animal models of acute myocardial ischemia (AMI). Pegylated puerarin was found to target myocardial tissue affected by ischemia in an isoprenaline-induced rat AMI model.[36] P2 ×₃ receptors are trimeric adenosine triphosphate (ATP)-activated ion channels permeable to Na+, K + and Ca²⁺ present in ganglia neurons responsible for excitatory sympathetic reflexes induced by ischemia-related myocardial cell injury. Puerarin reduced systolic blood pressure (BP) and heart rate and relieved pain after AMI. It also decreased upregulated P2X₃ mRNA and protein expression in stellate, superior cervical, and cervical dorsal root ganglia inhibited upregulated ATP-activated currents in dorsal root ganglion neurons and depressed upregulated excitatory sympathetic responses.[14] The available evidence indicates that puerarin may relieve myocardial ischemic damage by blocking P2X₃ signaling and depressing excitatory sympathetic reflexes. Other results obtained in isolated rat hearts is consistent with the association of the therapeutic effect of puerarin on AMI, the opening of calcium-activated potassium channels, and protein kinase C (PKC) activity.[37]

Puerarin was also found to promote vasodilation after myocardial infarction in a rat model, with increased serum NO concentration, NO synthase (eNOS) expression, and protein kinase B (Akt/PKB) phosphorylation in myocardial endothelial cells.[38] Compound medicines including puerarin can also protect against AMI. Shenge, which contains puerarin and danshensu isolated from the Chinese herb, Salvia miltiorrhiza, decreased ST elevation, reduced the size of the ischemic area, serum creatine kinase isoenzyme-MB, lactate (LDH), and MDA, and increased serum SOD in a dose-dependent manner.[39] The evidence indicates that the cardioprotective effects of Shenge depend on its antioxidant and anti-LPO activities.

Aging is associated with arterial stiffening and results in hypertension and cardiac hypertrophy. Endothelium-dependent relaxation (EDR) refers to a vasodilation response to a variety of endothelial factors. It can occur with the conversion of L-Arg to NO by NO synthase promoted by drugs or physiological stimuli. EDR is impaired in rats by infusion angiotensin II along with reduction of phospho-eNOS (Ser 1177) expression and increases in the expression of gp91phox, p22phox, TGFβ1, and VCAM-1. Puerarin has been shown to improve EDR and reverse the changes in angiotensin II (Ang II)-induced protein expression of the above molecules.[40] Ang II induces macrophage aggregation in inflammatory responses, and the macrophages secrete cytokines like TGF-β₁ that act through Smad proteins to promote myocardial collagen synthesis, deposition, and fibrosis.[41] Puerarin was found to protect against myocardial injury in spontaneously hypertensive rats and was associated with reduced TGF-β and Smad3 expression and increased Smad7 mRNA expression.[42]

Thickening of the myocardium can be caused by diseases, but it can also result from pathophysiological change related to aging. Puerarin has been shown to protect against cardiomyocyte hypertrophy and apoptosis via 5’-adenosine monophosphate kinase (AMPK)/target of rapamycin-mediated signaling[43] and can attenuate Ang II-induced cardiac hypertrophy by inhibiting activation of the redox-sensitive p38 and the NF-κB pathway.[44] Puerarin also has antihypertrophic effects by blocking Rac1-dependent NADPH oxidase activation and downstream redox-sensitive AP-1 signaling.[45] In another mouse model, aortic banding induced cardiac hypertrophy. The available evidence indicates that puerarin slows the progression of cardiac hypertrophy and apoptosis probably by the blockade of PI3K/Akt and JNK signaling pathways.[46] Evidence from modern medicine indicates that puerarin can dilate coronary arteries, increase coronary blood flow, reduce myocardial oxygen consumption and increase oxygen supply, and reduce peripheral resistance. It also has an antihypertensive effect and can alleviate the “stiff neck” symptoms of hypertension patients.

Endocrine diseases

Puerarin has been investigated in diabetes mellitus and its complications, hyperlipidemia, and osteoporosis. Diabetes mellitus is an aging-related disease characterized by high blood glucose and impaired glucose tolerance resulting from insulin secretion deficiency, insulin resistance, or both. In addition to insulin resistance, aging may increase the susceptibility of diabetes mellitus because of increased inducible NOS (iNOS) expression, and S-nitrosation of the insulin receptor substrate-1, or the activation of AKT/PKB in skeletal muscle.[15,47] Both diabetes itself and its related complications are responsible for increased morbidity and mortality. The antidiabetes activity of puerarin includes reduced body weight gain, improved blood glucose control, and improved glucose tolerance. R. pueraria has been used to treat diabetes for thousands of years, and Puerarin can reduce blood sugar and increase insulin receptor sensitivity in patients with type 2 diabetes. Puerarin may increase β-cell proliferation in high-fat-diet-induced db/db diabetic mice by activation of glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor signaling and its downstream targets[48] and by inhibition of β-cell apoptosis in streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic mice by the mediation of PI3K/Akt signaling.[49]

Chronic hyperglycemia results in retinal microvascular abnormalities, neovascularization, macular edema, and retinal detachment that ultimately lead to blindness. Puerarin has been shown to attenuate inflammation-induced retinal injury by inhibiting apoptosis caused by proinflammatory factors and by interfering with inflammatory signaling. IL-β can be responsible for retinal cell inflammation and apoptosis following breakdown of the blood-retina barrier. Puerarin attenuated leukostasis and cell apoptosis and prevented molecular events induced by upstream and downstream signaling in TR-iBRB2 retinal capillary endothelial cells pretreated with IL-1 β for 24 h.[50] Puerarin alleviated neuropathic pain by inhibiting inflammation mediated by suppression of NF-κB activation and cytokine upregulation in the spinal cord of rats with rats with STZ-induced diabetes.[51]

Diabetic nephropathy is characterized by the accumulation of the glomerular extracellular matrix, proteinuria, and progressive renal failure. Puerarin regulated the production of glomerular extracellular matrix and protected against the progression of other events in rats with diabetic nephropathy induced by STZ.[52] Puerarin was found to protect against renal injury caused by hyperglycemia and advanced glycation end products (AGEs). It reduced the AGE content and decreased the expression of AGE-specific cellular receptor (RAGE) mRNA in the kidneys of rats with STZ-induced diabetes.[53]

Puerarin has beneficial effects on hyperlipidemia. Large multicenter epidemiology studies conducted in China confirmed that total cholesterol (TC), triglycerides (TGs), and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) all increase with age.[54] Hepatic cholesterol 7 alpha-hydroxylase (CYP7A1) is a membrane-bound cytochrome P450 enzyme that converts cholesterol to 7-alpha-hydroxycholesterol, which is the first and rate-limiting step in the synthesis of bile acid. Puerarin inhibited the increase in serum and liver TC concentration caused by a cholesterol-rich diet in Sprague-Dawley rats in part by enhancing CYP7A1 mRNA expression and promoting excretion of cholesterol and bile acids by the liver.[16]

Reduction of bone mass without alteration of bone composition leads to fractures in postmenopausal and age-related primary osteoporosis. Puerarin is an isoflavone with a chemical structure like that of estrogen. As it has estrogen activity but is less toxic. Its effects on bone metabolism have been investigated. Puerarin and/or zinc gavage decreased bone loss, increased serum osteocalcin, bone marrow stromal cell proliferation, and alkaline phosphatase expression, and reduced serum adiponectin and bone marrow adiposity in ovariectomized rats. Coadministration had a stronger effect on bone loss and biomechanical strength than puerarin or zinc monotherapy.[55]

Cancer

The incidence of cancer increases with age and is related to changes in molecular physiology. The inhibition of the proliferation of BGC-823 gastric cancer cells was stronger in response to combination treatment with puerarin and 5-fluorouracil than to monotherapy, with no increase in side effects.[56] Similar effects were observed in Eca109 esophageal cancer cells in vitro and in nude mice.[57] High concentrations of puerarin have also been reported to inhibit cell proliferation, increase apoptosis, and change the morphology of SMMC-7721 human hepatocellular carcinoma cells in a time-dependent and dose-dependent manner. Puerarin-induced apoptosis was associated with the loss of matrix-metalloproteinases and generation of ROS.[58] The anticancer activity of a puerarin nanosuspension was demonstrated by changes in tumor volume, body weight, and survival of mice bearing HT-29 human colon cancer cell tumors.[59] Multidrug resistance (MDR) is a major obstacle to effective cancer chemotherapy and may be mediated by the expression of the MDR1 gene, which was purified in 1979. Puerarin was shown to downregulate MDR1 expression and improve drug toxicity via NF-κB and cAMP-responsive element and transcription-dependent upregulation of AMPK in MCF-7/Adriamycin human breast MDR cancer cells.[60]

Puerarin summary

Puerarin is the bioactive ingredient of Radix puerariae that improves blood circulation, has antiarrhythmic effects, lowers elevated BP, blood lipids and blood sugar, and has neuroprotective and antitumor activity. Currently, injection, tablet, and capsule formulations of puerarin are available for clinical use.[61] The injection formulation has been approved by the State Food and Drug Administration in China[62] and is used to treat coronary heart disease, angina pectoris, myocardial infarction, and viral myocarditis in children. It is also used to treat ischemic cerebrovascular disease, diabetes mellitus, retinal arteriole and vein occlusion, and sudden deafness. Its effects on the reversal of multidrug tumor resistance need further confirmation in clinical trials and practice.

Genistein Effects on Aging-Related Disease

Cardiovascular and cerebrovascular disease

Genistein can attenuate neuronal degeneration caused by cerebral ischemia by reducing oxidative damage. Genistein inhibited decreases in SOD activity and Nrf1 expression that resulted from ischemia and decreased MDA, apoptosis-related cysteine peptidase caspase-3, and caspase-9 expression.[63] Genistein also protected ischemia/reperfusion damage to hippocampal CA1 neurons by reducing oxidative stress. The mechanism may have involved enhancement of eNOS phosphorylation/activation, NO-mediated thiol modification of Keap1, and subsequent upregulation of Nrf2/HO-1 antioxidative signaling.[64] Genistein may also protect against ischemia/reperfusion injury by decreasing thromboxane A2, formation of leukocyte-platelet aggregates, and increasing U-46619-and decreasing platelet releasate-elicited contractile responses.[65] Genistein attenuated pressure overload-induced cardiac dysfunction, hypertrophy, in an experimental mouse model. The mechanism may have involved regulation of metastasis-associated gene 3 (MTA3)/TGFβ and activated kinase 1 (TAK1)/MKK4/JNK signaling.[66]

In animal hypertension studies, genistein decreased BP by regulating eNOS activity and reversing endothelial dysfunction. Angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibition, PKC-βII activation, and increased kinin and NO activity may have contributed to the BP-lowering activity genistein.[17] Genistein also reduced endothelial dysfunction in spontaneously hypertensive rats, possibly by increasing eNOS activity and calmodulin-1 expression and decreasing superoxide generation;[67] the antihypertensive effects and reversal of endothelial expression were increased by combined treatment with Mg.[68]

Endocrine diseases

Genistein has been evaluated in diabetes mellitus and its complications, hyperlipidemia, and osteoporosis. The anti-diabetes effects of genistein have been demonstrated in various animal models. Genistein improved islet-cell survival and proliferation and facilitated insulin production in pancreatic β-cell cultures after alloxan injury[69] and improved glucose tolerance and blood insulin level in mice with STZ-induced diabetes via activation of cAMP/PKA-dependent extracellular ERK1/2 signaling.[70] It was also reported to inhibit STZ diabetes-induced retinal inflammation by interfering with inflammatory signaling by ERK and P38 MAPKs in activated microglia.[71] Oxidative damage is involved in the development of diabetes-induced cardiovascular diseases, and genistein was found to increase the antioxidant reserve of the hearts of rats with STZ-induced diabetes. The anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects of genistein were shown by NF-κB immunohistochemical staining and amelioration of ultrastructural degenerative changes in myocardial tissue.[72] Continuing daidzein treatment of rats with diabetes prevented abnormal changes of vascular reactivity in aortic tissue through mediation of prostaglandin-related pathways and attenuation of oxidative stress.[73]

Monocytes that adhere to arterial endothelial cells and enter the intima participate in the development of atherosclerosis. Genistein has been shown to inhibit hyperglycemia-induced adhesion of monocytes to cultured human aortic endothelial cells, suppress monocyte chemotactic protein-1 (MCP-1), IL-8, impaired intracellular cAMP production, and PKA activity.[74] Genistein also suppressed diabetes-induced adhesion of monocytes to endothelial cell and endothelial secretion of adhesion molecules in mice with diabetes.[74] It also improved wound healing and angiogenesis in mice with STZ-induced type 1 diabetes by suppression of FoxO1, iNOS activity, and oxidative stress.[75]

The estrogen activity of genistein on lipid metabolism has been associated with reduced atherosclerosis in animal models. Dietary genistein improved hyperlipidemia in hamsters by upregulating the expression of hepatic LDL receptor, estrogen receptor alpha (ERα), and ERβ mRNAs[76] and 7-difluoromethyl-5,4′-dimethoxygenistein (DFMG), a genistein derivative, increased plasma nitrite, decreased plasma lipids and vWF, decreased fatty infiltration of aortic lesions, and improved EDR in DFMG-treated mice.[77] DFMG also slowed the development of atherosclerosis, reduced TC, LDL cholesterol, and LPO, increased smooth muscle cell and collagen content of thoracic aorta atheromas in a rabbit model.[78]

Receptor activator of NF-κB ligand (RANKL) and its decoy receptor osteoprotegerin (OPG) regulate bone resorption and homeostasis in normal bone remodeling. In a group of osteopenic, postmenopausal women, 24 months of dietary supplementation with genistein, calcium, and Vitamin D₃ improved bone turnover and sRANKL-OPG balance in a cohort of osteopenic, postmenopausal women. Coadministration had a stronger effect than the calcium and Vitamin D₃ control.[79]

Cancer

Genistein was shown to inhibit the proliferation of SNU-449 human hepatocellular carcinoma cells in a concentration-dependent manner by downregulation of thioredoxin-1.[80] It also inhibited proliferation and induced Akt phosphorylation and mitochondrial apoptosis of HCT-116 and LoVo cells colorectal cancer cells.[81] Other studies have associated the antiproliferative effect of genistein-27 in colitis-associated colorectal cancer with the p65-CDX2-β-catenin axis and inhibition of β-catenin target genes.[82] About one-sixth of breast cancers are triple-negative cancers, named after the absence of the expression of estrogen receptor, progesterone receptor, and human epidermal growth factor receptor 2. An analysis of 5,445 phosphorylation sites on 2,008 phosphoproteins in genistein-treated triple-negative MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cells revealed that genistein inhibited proliferation by regulating the cell cycle and DNA damage by activation of ataxia telangiectasia-mutated and Rad3-related (ATR) kinases and the BRCA1 complex.[83]

Genistein-enhanced trichostatin A-induced p53-dependent apoptosis of lung cancer cells that was associated with histone/nonhistone protein acetylation.[84] It also inhibited the proliferation of human multiple myeloma cells by upregulating miR-29b and inhibiting NF-κB.[85] Genistein promoted programmed or nonprogrammed cell death of MES-SA, MES-SA-Dx5, and SK-UT-1 uterine sarcoma cells,[86] and inhibited proliferation in LNCaP, LAPC-4, and PC-3 prostate cancer cells by increasing expression. It acted by reducing methylation of the ER-β promoter.[87] Methylation of 58 genes in DU-145 and LNCaP prostate cancer cells was altered by genistein and daidzein, which led to inhibition of cell proliferation and promotion of apoptosis.[88] The anticancer effects of genistein in metastatic breast cancer have been attributed to downregulation of miRNA-155.[89]

Epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) is important for tumor cell migration, and it was found that 7-difluoromethoxyl-5,4′-di-n-octyl genistein reversed the EMT phenotype of gastric cancer stem-like cells by modulation of forkhead box M1 (FoxM1) and decrease of Twist1 expression.[90] Genistein also inhibited colon cancer progression and suppressed the expression of colon stem-cell markers, including CD133, CD44, and β-catenin in 1,2-dimethylhydrazine-induced colon cancer in rats.[91] Bisphenol A and nonylphenol are endocrine disrupting chemicals that promote EMT and migration of estrogen-responsive cancers. Genistein suppressed EMT and the migration of BG-1 ovarian cancer cells enhanced by 17 β-estradiol, bisphenol A and nonylphenol by downregulating ER and TGF-β signaling.[92]

The association of the anticarcinogenic and antiproliferative effects of soybean isoflavonoids and signal transduction pathways has been investigated. Genistein and genistin have weak estrogen activity. However, in the presence of estradiol, they downregulate estradiol-induced alkaline phosphatase activity and reduce cell proliferation much like antiestrogens. This effect warrants further study to evaluate potential clinical benefits.

Daidzein

Cerebrovascular disease

Daidzein enhanced the cholesterol homeostasis genetic program, including expression of the Lxr and the downstream transporter ApoE, Abca1, and Abcg1 genes in vitro. It also improved motor/gait function in chronic stroke and increased synaptophysin expression. The effects were abolished in ApoE-knockout mice, indicating the role of daidzein-induced ApoE upregulation in stroke recovery.[93]

Endocrine diseases

Daidzein has been evaluated in diabetes mellitus and hyperlipidemia. Daidzein may decrease glucose absorption. It is an α-glucosidase inhibitor and can suppress postprandial hyperglycemia caused by starch,[94] and was found to promote glucose uptake by activation of AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) and GLUT4 translocation to the plasma membrane of muscle cells.[95] A 6-month dietary supplementation with daidzein decreased TGs and uric acid in a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial including 210 adults with hypercholesterolemia. ESRβ activity and the Rsal genotype were both involved.[96] In obese mice fed a high-fat diet, daiazein improved hyperlipoidemia by inhibiting the activities of pancreatic lipase and lipoprotein lipase, the differentiation of rat preadipocytes, and by stimulating lipolysis by activating hormone-sensitive lipase.[97]

Cancer

Ovarian cancer is the deadliest of all gynecologic cancers. The growth of ovarian cancer cells is inhibited by the anti-inflammatory and proapoptotic activity of natural ERβ agonists.[98] Daidzein is an ER modulator that inhibits cell migration, invasion, proliferation, and sphere formation by regulating focal adhesion kinase and PI3K/AKT signaling in ovarian cancer cells.[99] It has been shown to induce apoptosis and cell cycle arrest in SKOV3 human ovarian cancer cells by inhibiting the Raf/MEK/ERK cascade.[100] Despite an initial response to chemotherapy, most ovarian cancer patients relapse with an incurable disease attributable to development chemotherapy resistance.

ER-positive breast cancer is the most frequent cause of cancer death in women worldwide, making development of novel treatments a priority. An oral form of isoflavone daidzein was synergistic with centchroman, an oral contraceptive with anticancer activity, to induce apoptosis and inhibit PI3K/Akt pathway signaling in MCF-7/MDA MB-231 human breast cancer cells.[101] The phytoestrogen activity of daidzein was found to inhibit the drug transporter BCRP/ABCG2 in breast cancer cells.[102] Long-term human studies monitoring free estrogens and their conjugates are highly warranted to evaluate the potential side effects of high-dose genistein and daidzein, especially in patients diagnosed with ERα+ breast cancer.[103] Daidzein was also reported to suppress TNF-α-induced migration and invasion of human breast cancer cells by inhibiting hedgehog/Gli1 signaling[104] and to cause cytochrome c-mediated apoptosis via Bcl-2 in human hepatic cancer cells,[105] The evidence supports daidzein is a potent inducer of mitochondrial activation of apoptosis in hepatic cancer cells via mitochondrial pathway.

Conclusions

With a rapidly aging population, the morbidity of age-related neurodegenerative, cardio- and cerebrovascular, and endocrine diseases including diabetes and osteoporosis is increasing. The etiology of these diseases is complicated and involves the interaction of gene and environment, and the availability of effective therapies is limited. Traditional Chinese medicines differs from Western medicines by containing more than one active ingredient and can target multiple signal pathways.[1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10] R. puerariae has an important place in Chinese traditional medicine. It has been shown effective in the treatment and management of cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, hypertension, and cerebrovascular diseases. The application of Radix puerariae in human diseases is based on the theory of Chinese medicine and clinical research. Pharmacological activities of the tuber extract and its constituents have been identified. The mechanisms of action of the extract have not been fully described and warrant continuing study. Its active ingredients are thought to include puerarin, genistein, and daidzein. The available evidence supports the demonstrated or potential benefits of puerarin in diverse clinical applications. The evidence warrants continuing study of its molecular mechanisms and targets and for improving its oral bioavailability and reducing its side effects. Puerarin injection is currently approved in coronary heart and ischemic cerebrovascular diseases because of its fibrinolytic and vascular activity, which may be shared with daidzein and genistein. Study of the fibrinolytic mechanisms of daidzein and genistein independently, combined with each other and with puerarin would help to discover synergy in their fibrinolytic activity. Interdisciplinary studies are required for a better understanding of the pharmacological mechanisms of Radix puerariae extract and its individual constituents. Comparative studies with other medicines are needed to confirm its safety.

Financial support and sponsorship

Nil.

Conflicts of interest

There are no conflicts of interest.