Plants containing isoflavones in the treatment of the menopause syndrom and in climaterium disorders

Abstract

During the last years, there is being a high increase in the intake of plant derivatives containing isoflavones, because of the wide dissemination of knowledge about their estrogenic activity, and their insignificant collateraleffects Isoflavones are part of a chemical group, popularly known as “phytoestrogens. Some plant species are sources o isoflavones. Among them, the soy, Glyxine max (L.) Merr. is the most commonly known and used. It is also possilbe to find that kind of phytochemicals em black cohosh, Cimicifuga racemosa (L.) Nutt., in dong quai or female ginseng, Angelica sinensis (Oliv.) Diel, in liquorice, Glycyrrhiza glabra L., and in red clover, Trifolium pratense L. It is known that information about hormonal replacement using plant extracts with isoflavones are still not totally elucidated, but the long lasting use of this kind of products may have more satisfactory results than when they are only used at climaterium time.