Anti-oxidant Effect and Enhancement of Menopausal Signs by Sophorae fructus-derived Isoflavones in Ovariectomized Rats and Cytoprotective Effect in Neuro-2a

Isoflavones are reported to play a role in menopausal women as a phytoestrogen, which can replace estradiols in hormone replacement therapy (HRT). Recently, due to the risk of breast cancer by HRT, phytoestrogens (e.g. isoflavones) have been focused as an alternative therapy in menopause. In the study, we investigated whether isoflavones derived from Sophorae fructus (SISO) have more benefit than that of soybean isoflavones in estrogen deficient rats. We found that SISO effectively controled H₂O₂ comparing with the baseline (p<0.01 vs. post value of OVX-Cont), and the blood sugar and weight were also controlled with decreasing patterns. Additionally, in LDH assay for cytoprotective effect in Neuro-2a cell line, SISO protected cells from the damage by SNAP (p <0.05). In conclusion, SISO may have more beneficial effect in enhancing the menopausal signs than that of soybean isoflavones and the cytoprotective effect in neuron cells suggests that SISO can play a certain role in neuroprotection after menopause.