Glycitein is an O-methylated isoflavone which accounts for 5-10% of the total isoflavones in soy food products. Glycitein is a phytoestrogen with weak estrogenic activity, comparable to that of the other soy isoflavones. Glycitein (4',7-dihydroxy-6-methoxyisoflavone) accounts for 5-10% of the total isoflavones in soy food products. The biological activity of this compound has not been reported to date, although numerous studies have been performed with the other soy isoflavones, daidzein and genistein. Glycitein was isolated from soy germ to 99% purity. Weaning female B6D2F1 mice were dosed with glycitein (3 mg/day), genistein (3 mg/day), and diethylstilbestrol (DES) (0.03 microg/day) in 5% Tween 80 by gavage for 4 days. glycitein has weak estrogenic activity, comparable to that of the other soy isoflavones but much lower than that of DES and 17beta-estradiol.
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