Title:Phytochemicals: Potential in Management of Climacteric Neurobiology
VOLUME: 22 ISSUE: 27
Author(s):Kanwaljit Chopra, Seema Bansal and Anand Kamal Sachdeva
Affiliation:University Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Panjab University, Chandigarh-160014.
Keywords:Phytochemicals, menopause, estrogen, brain.
Abstract:Menopause jeopardizes the integrity of brain and makes it vulnerable to various
diseases, both of psychiatric and degenerative nature. Exogenous estrogen supplementation
confers neuroprotection but the results of Women's Health Initiative (WHI), Million Women
Study (MWS) and incidence of endometrial cancer, breast cancer and venous
thromboembolism reported with estrogen use have engendered doubts over its clinical
translation for postmenopausal neurological disorders. Scientific community and general
public have started recognizing the protective potential of phytochemicals in climacteric
medicine. These phytochemicals are plant-derived, non-steroidal bioactive estrogenic
compounds. Emerging preclinical studies have suggested that these phytochemicals display
potential benefits in mitigating postmenopausal depression, anxiety, cerebral ischemia and
cognitive dysfunction.
Thus, the aim of present review is: a) to give an overview of neuroprotective action of
estrogen, b) to address the chemical and pharmacological features of various classes of phytoestrogens, and c) to
present preclinical and clinical evidence of effect of phytoestrogens on climacteric neurobiology with their
possible mechanisms of action.
