[Lotus]

I think this might be the original research.

Agonistic and antagonistic estrogens in licorice root (Glycyrrhiza glabra)


Denita

Ok Denita we need to talk about this:

One third of the fractions displayed estrogenic activity towards either one or both estrogen receptors (ERs; ERα and ERβ). Glabrene-rich fractions displayed an estrogenic response, predominantly to the ERα. Surprisingly, glabridin did not exert agonistic activity to both ER subtypes. Several fractions displayed higher responses than the maximum response obtained with the reference compound, the natural hormone 17β-estradiol (E2).

Ok this sounds great but unfortunately could be a small problem.

Just checking the florescent markers used as the data presented in this study indicate that induction and also superinduction of the reporter gene is ER-mediated, and that superinduction by genistein could be ascribed to stabilization of the firefly luciferase reporter enzyme increasing the bioluminescent signal during the cell-based assay. This indicates that the phenomenon of superinduction may not be biologically relevant but may rather represent a post-transcriptional effect on enzyme stability.

I'm cross referencing at the moment.

Denita

Ok no problem, the point I'm getting at is about the estrogenic response, and more directly to ERa.

Any thoughts?