Biochanin A prevents 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin-induced adipocyte dysfunction in cultured 3T3-L1 cells

Binary Pluronics based mixed micellar systems: Effective solution for improved solubilization of Biochanin A

The present work was carried out to appraise the solubilization of Biochanin (BCA), a natural hydrophobic drug in pure Pluronics (P84, P123 and F127) as well as binary mixed micelles (P84-P123 and F127-P123) followed by an interactional study using various state of art techniques. The critical micelle concentration (CMC) of binary mixtures P84-P123 and F127-P123 was found to be significantly lower than pure Pluronics justifying the candidature of mixed micelles (MMs) as a better solubilizer for BCA. UV-visible studies revealed the enhanced solubility of BCA in P84-P123 (1:2) MMs (3.51 ± 0.087 mg/mL) and F127-P123 (1:2) MMs (2.94 ± 0.046 mg/mL) as compared to micelles of pure Pluronics (10% w/v), P84 (2.25 ± 0.039 mg/mL) and F127 (1.12 ± 0.036 mg/mL). Differential pulse voltammetry (DPV) results demonstrated significantly superior binding of BCA with P84-P123 (1:2) MM (Ka = 2.60 × 105 M-1) as compared to pure P84 (Ka = 1.415 × 105 M-1). Mixed micellization (P84-P123 (1:2)) leads to increase in micellar hydrodynamic diameter (Dh = 16.09 nm) as compared to pure Pluronic P84 micelles (Dh = 15.71 nm) which was further amplified (Dh = 17.69 nm) after BCA loading. Different formulations of pure and MMs were subjected to in vitro drug release and MMs were found to slow down BCA release as compared to pure Pluronics (P84, P123). The results obtained in this study proved that P84-P123 (1:2) MMs are superior and more effective for the solubilization of BCA than pure and other MMs. Thus, the examined MMs hold the potential for advancing the development of solubilization techniques for other hydrophobic drugs with significant pharmacological value.

Biochanin-A: A Bioactive Natural Product with Versatile Therapeutic Perspectives

BACKGROUND

Biochanin-A (5,7 dihydroxy 4 methoxy isoflavone) is a phytochemical phytoestrogen that is highly effective against various diseases. Biochanin-A is a nutritional and dietary isoflavonoid naturally present in red clover, chickpea, soybeans and other herbs. Biochanin- A possesses numerous biological activities.

OBJECTIVE

The study focused on collective data of therapeutic activities of Biochanin-A.

METHODS

According to the literature, biochanin-A revealed a range of activities starting from chemoprevention, by hindering cell growth, activation of tumor cell death, hampering metastasis, angiogenic action, cell cycle regulation, neuroprotection, by controlling microglial activation, balancing antioxidants, elevating the neurochemicals, suppressing BACE-1, NADPH oxidase hindrance to inflammation, by mitigating the MAPK and NF- κB, discharge of inflammatory markers, upregulating the PPAR-γ, improving the function of heme oxygenase-1, erythroid 2 nuclear factors, detoxifying the oxygen radicals and stimulating the superoxide dismutase action, and controlling its production of transcription factors. Against pathogens, biochanin-A acts by dephosphorylating tyrosine kinase proteins, obstructing gram-negative bacteria, suppressing the development of cytokines from viruses, and improving the action of a neuraminidase cleavage of caspase-3, and acts as an efflux pump inhibitor. In metabolic disorders, biochanin-A acts by encouraging transcriptional initiation and inhibition, activating estrogen receptors, and increasing the activity of differentiation, autophagy, inflammation, and blood glucose metabolism.

CONCLUSION

Therefore, biochanin-A could be used as a therapeutic drug for various pathological conditions and treatments in human beings.

Biochanin A from Chinese Medicine: An Isoflavone with Diverse Pharmacological Properties

Biochanin A (BCA) is a dietary isoflavone, isolated from the leaves and stems of Trifolium pratense L and many other herbs of Chinese medicine. Recent findings indicated BCA as a promising drug candidate with diverse bioactive effects. On the purpose of evaluating the possibility of BCA in clinical application, this review is trying to provide a comprehensive summary of the pharmacological actions of BCA. The publications collected from PubMed, ScienceDirect, and Wiley databases were summarized for the last 10 years. Then, the potential therapeutic use of BCA on the treatment of various diseases was discussed according to its pharmacological properties, namely, anticancer, anti-inflammatory, anti-bacterial, anti-diabetic, and anti-obesity effects as well as neuroprotective, hepatoprotective, cardioprotective, and osteoprotective effects. BCA might mainly regulate the MAPK, PI3K, NRF2, and NF-kB pathways, respectively, to exert its bioactive effects. However, the limited definitive targets, poor biological availability, and insufficient safety evaluation might block the clinical application of BCA. This review may provide new insights for the development of BCA in the application of related diseases.

Pueraria tuberosa: A Review on Traditional Uses, Pharmacology, and Phytochemistry

Pueraria tuberosa (Roxb. ex Willd.) DC. (Fabaceae), also known as Indian Kudzu (vidari kand), is a perennial herb distributed throughout India and other Asian countries. Traditionally, tuber and leaves of this plant have extensively been reported for nutritional and medicinal properties in Ayurveda as well as in Chinese traditional practices. The objective of the present review is to compile and update the published data on traditional uses, pharmacological potential, and phytochemistry of compounds isolated from the plant Pueraria tuberosa. P. tuberosa extracts and its purified compounds possess multiple activities such as anticancer, anticonvulsant, antidiabetic, antifertility, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, anti-stress, antiulcerogenic, cardioprotective, hypolipidemic, hepatoprotective, immunomodulatory, nephroprotective, nootropic, neuroprotective, and wound healing. Tuber and leaf extracts of P. tuberosa contain several bioactive constituents such as puerarin, daidzein, genistein, quercetin, irisolidone, biochanin A, biochanin B, isoorientin, and mangiferin, which possess an extensive range of pharmacological activities. The extensive range of pharmacological properties of P. tuberosa provides opportunities for further investigation and presents a new approach for the treatment of ailments. Many phytochemicals have been identified and characterized from P. tuberosa; however, some of them are still unexplored, and there is no supporting data for their activities and exact mechanisms of action. Therefore, further investigations are warranted to unravel the mechanisms of action of individual constituents of this plant.

Biochanin A: A novel bioactive multifunctional compound from nature

Natural products (NPs) will continue to serve humans as matchless source of novel drug leads and an inspiration for the synthesis of non-natural drugs. As our scientific understanding of 'nature' is rapidly expanding, it would be worthwhile to illuminate the pharmacological distinctions of NPs to the scientific community and the public. Flavonoids have long fascinated scientists with their remarkable structural diversity as well as biological functions. Consequently, this review aims to shed light on the sources and pharmacological significance of a dietary isoflavone, biochanin A, which has been recently emerged as a multitargeted and multifunctional guardian of human health. Biochanin A possesses anti-inflammatory, anticancer, neuroprotective, antioxidant, anti-microbial, and hepatoprotective properties. It combats cancer development by inducing apoptosis, inhibition of metastasis and arresting cell cycle via targeting several deregulated signaling pathways of cancer. It fights inflammation by blocking the expression and activity of pro-inflammatory cytokines via modulation of NF-κB and MAPKs. Biochanin A acts as a neuroprotective agent by inhibiting microglial activation and apoptosis of neurons. As biochanin A has potential to modulate several biological networks, thus, it can be anticipated that this therapeutically potent compound might serve as a novel lead for drug development in the near future.