What's News - Resveratrol as a potential alternative to HRT

Researchers at the Jichi Medical University in Japan have taken to heart the idea that women are looking for safer alternatives to side-effect and long-term risk ridden HRT drugs.

The researchers turned to plant extracts with oestrogenic activity such as daidzein, genistein, coumestrol, resveratrol and glycitein. They investigated the effects of these natural substances on cell growth, cell cycle, apoptosis (healthy/programmed cell death) and various cell receptor sights (including breast cancer cells).

From the findings of their study, published in the Journal of Nutritional Biochemistry, the researchers conclude that “because it (resveratrol) stimulated the transcription of endogenous oestrogen receptor (ER) and proapoptotic effects, this phytoestrogen is the most promising candidate as an HRT alternative and chemopreventive reagent for breast cancer.”

Source: Journal of Nutritional Biochemistry
Published online ahead of print: doi: 10.1016/j.jnutbio.2009.06.010
Title: Effects of diverse dietary phytoestrogens on cell growth, cell cycle and apoptosis in estrogen-receptor-positive breast cancer cells
Authors: T Sakamoto, H Horiguchi, E Oguma, F Kayama