
Genistein is an isoflavone (a type of flavonoid) found in several plants including kudzu and soybeans. It often appears along with daidzein.
Kudzu root was found to contain 12.6 mg/100 g dry weight of genistein and 184 mg/100 g dry weight of daidzein.[9]
Soybeans were fount to contain 26.8-102.5 mg/100 g dry weight genistein and 10.5-85.0 mg/100 g dry weight of daidzein.[9]
A typical dietary supplement dosage of genistein for adults ranges from 8mg to 250mg twice daily. No established recommended supplement dosage exists. In several clinical trials up to 600mg were safely used in human test subjects, displaying no toxic side effects.
Metabolism
In vitro tests using human liver microsomes determined that genistein is oxidized by CYP1A2 and to a lesser degree by CYP2E1 to form Orobol (3'-hydroxy genistein).[18]
Genistein | CYP1A2 | Orobol |
---|---|---|
![]() |
—-> | ![]() |
Interaction with Psychedelic Compounds
Some anecdotal reports indicate that whole kudzu extracts reduce the effects of psychedelics. Unlike whole kudzu which contains puerarin, a compound that interacts with 5-HT2C[15] and also may interact with either 5-HT1A or 5-HT2A receptors[14], genistein has not been shown to be active at 5-HT1A, 5-HT2A, or 5-HT2C receptors.
Effects on Enzymes
17bHSD | Effect | Dosage | Verified in Humans |
---|---|---|---|
17bHSD2 (Oxidative form of 17bHSD) | 77% Induction[1] | ? | ? |
17bHSD1 (Reductive form of 17bHSD) | Inhibition[13] | ? | ? |
UGT | Effect | Dosage | Verified in Humans |
UGT1A1 | 96.7% Inhibition[2] | 30 μM | ? |
UGT1A3 | 47.4% Inhibition[2] | 30 μM | ? |
UGT1A9 | 79.5% Inhibition[2] | 30 μM | ? |
UGT2B7 | 30% Inhibition[2] | 30 μM | ? |
SULT | Effect | Dosage | Verified in Humans |
SULT1A1 | Potent inhibition[3][4] | ? | ? |
SULT1A3 | 50% inhibition[8] | > 25000 nM | ? |
P-Glycoprotein | Effect | Dosage | Verified in Humans |
P-Glycoprotein | Inhibition[5] | ? | ? |
ADH | Effect | Dosage | Verified in Humans |
ADH | Potent inhibition[6] | ? | ? |
GST | Effect | Dosage | Verified in Humans |
GSTM1-1 | Inhibition[7] | ? | ? |
GSTM2-2 | Inhibition[7] | ? | ? |
Cytochrome P450 | Effect | Dosage | Verified in Humans |
CYP3A | Modest Induction | 14 day treatment | Yes[11] |
CYP3A4 (a subset of CYP3A) | Induction[12] | ? | ? |
CYP1A2 | 41% Inhibition | 1 gram daily for 14 days | Yes[10] |
CYP2A6 | 47% Induction | 1 gram daily for 14 days | Yes[10] |
CYP2E1 | Potent inhibition[16][17][19] | ? | ? |
Chemical Properties
PubChem Compound ID: 5280961
Molecular Weight: 270.2369 [g/mol]
Molecular Formula: C15H10O5
XLogP3-AA: 2.7
H-Bond Donor: 3
H-Bond Acceptor: 5
IUPAC Name: 5,7-dihydroxy-3-(4-hydroxyphenyl)chromen-4-one
InChI: InChI=1S/C15H10O5/c16-9-3-1-8(2-4-9)11-7-20-13-6-10(17)5-12(18)14(13)15
(11)19/h1-7,16-18H
InChIKey: TZBJGXHYKVUXJN-UHFFFAOYSA-N
Canonical SMILES: C1=CC(=CC=C1C2=COC3=CC(=CC(=C3C2=O)O)O)O
Melting point: 301.5 dec °C
See Also
- Alcohol Dehydrogenase
- Estradiol 17beta-dehydrogenase Type 2
- Glucuronosyltransferase
- Glutathione S-Transferase
- Oilahuasca Activation
- P-Glycoprotein
- Sulfotransferase