Description
Coumestrol is a phytoestrogen found in various plant sources such as soy, spinach, and clover; it exhibits estrogenic, anti-inflammatory, immunomodulatory, anti-osteoporotic, and antidepressant activities. Coumestrol acts as an agonist at ERβ and inhibits aromatase and 3α-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase. Coumestrol decreases immobility in animals undergoing the forced swim test. Additionally, this compound decreases levels of TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-6, and RANKL, limits T cell differentiation and activation, and suppresses formation of osteoclasts in vitro.
References
Karieb S, Fox SW. Suppression of T cell-induced osteoclast formation. Biochem Biophys Res Commun. 2013 Jul 12;436(4):619-24. PMID: 23764400.
Blomquist CH, Lima PH, Hotchkiss JR. Inhibition of 3alpha-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (3alpha-HSD) activity of human lung microsomes by genistein, daidzein, coumestrol and C(18)-, C(19)- and C(21)-hydroxysteroids and ketosteroids. Steroids. 2005 Jul;70(8):507-14. PMID: 15894034.
Walf AA, Rhodes ME, Frye CA. Antidepressant effects of ERbeta-selective estrogen receptor modulators in the forced swim test. Pharmacol Biochem Behav. 2004 Jul;78(3):523-9. PMID: 15251261.
Kuiper GG, Lemmen JG, Carlsson B, et al. Interaction of estrogenic chemicals and phytoestrogens with estrogen receptor beta. Endocrinology. 1998 Oct;139(10):4252-63. PMID: 9751507.
