A remarkable diversity of naturally occurring and synthetic compounds have been shown to mimic the biological effects of hormones by virtue of their ability to bind and activate the nuclear hormone receptor. The hormone-like activity of the endocrine ...
A remarkable diversity of naturally occurring and synthetic compounds have been shown to mimic the biological effects of hormones by virtue of their ability to bind and activate the nuclear hormone receptor. The hormone-like activity of the endocrine disrupters is indicated by their ability to stimulate an hormone receptor-dependent transcriptional response. The target gene induction(T AGIN) assay has been developed to screening the endocrine disrupters using the specific transcriptional response for the hormone receptor. We transfected human breast cancer MCF-7 cells with luciferase reporter gene under control of ERE(estrogen responsive element) and established stable cell line. The cell responded to 17 β -estradiol in a dose- and time-dependent manner. That system has employed in evaluating the estrogenecity of various phytoestogens. Phytochemicals which are known estrogenic were· added to cell culture in doses ranging from 10-11 to 1O-4M and following incubation, the cells were then lysed and assayed for luciferase activity. The transactivation properties of these compounds as well as the relative affinities for binding the human estrogen receptor have been compared to 17 β -estradiol in that system. The dose dependent responses for these compounds were shown. By using TAGIN assay, the estrogenic activities associated with 35 phytochemicals which include flavonoids, lignans and saponins were also examined. Relative efficiency is calculated as the ratio of luciferase gene induction values of each compound at a concentration of 1 f.1. M and the luciferase gene induction values of 17 (3 -estradiol at 1 nM. Among the compounds tested, several new estrogenics were found; genistin, daidzin, glycitein, 6" -O-malonylglycitin and 6" -O-malonyldaidzin were estrogenic by TAGIN assay. The relative estrogenecities of the Leguminosae species were also assessed. The following estrogenecity ranking was measured: arrow root(Pueraria thunbergiana) > licorice root(Glycyrrhiza uralensis) > rhynchosia(Rhynchosia volubilis} > soybean(Glycine max) » cassia seed(Qzssia tora ). The estrogenecity of kidney bean(Phaseolus multiflorus}, mung bean (Phaseolus aureus), adzuki bean(Phaseolus angularis), peanut(Arachis hypogaea), garden pea(Pisum sativum) were low. Astragalus(Astragalus membranaceus), pseudoacasia(Robinia pseudoacacia), wisteria(Wisteria japonica) did not shown estrogenecity. Especially, arrow root and licorice root showed the estrogenecity 12 and 11 times than soybean, respectively. We made assessment of the relative estrogenecity in the variety of soybean with the result that the following estrogenecity ranking was measured: Huktae > Maejoo- kong > imported bean. joonjufY, Sokchong, Yakkong and Orialtae are shown relatively lower. Lastly, the estrogenecity changes in soybean milk according to the sterilization methods were also studied. The results demonstrate the utility of using T AGIN assay for detecting chemical interaction with steroid receptor and these assay should serve as a useful method to assess the effects of phytochemicals on endocrine function.