Biochanin A Explained

Biochanin A is an O-methylated isoflavone. It is a natural organic compound in the class of phytochemicals known as flavonoids. Biochanin A can be found in red clover^[1] in soy, in alfalfa sprouts, in peanuts, in chickpea (Cicer arietinum) and in other legumes.

Biochanin A is classified as a phytoestrogen and has putative benefits in dietary cancer prophylaxis. It has also been found to be a weak inhibitor of fatty acid amide hydrolase in vitro.^[2]

Metabolism

The enzyme biochanin-A reductase uses dihydrobiochanin A and NADP⁺ to produce biochanin A, NADPH, and H⁺. The enzyme isoflavone-7-O-beta-glucoside 6"-O-malonyltransferase uses malonyl-CoA and biochanin A 7-O-β-D-glucoside to produce CoA and biochanin A 7-O-(6-O-malonyl-β-D-glucoside).

See also

• List of phytochemicals in food
• Prunetin

Notes and References

1. Medjakovic, S. . Jungbauer, A. . Red clover isoflavones biochanin A and formononetin are potent ligands of the human aryl hydrocarbon receptor . The Journal of Steroid Biochemistry and Molecular Biology . 2008 . 108 . 1–2 . 171–177 . 18060767 . 10.1016/j.jsbmb.2007.10.001 . 206495959 .
2. Thors L, Burston JJ, Alter BJ, McKinney MK, Cravatt BF, Ross RA, Pertwee RG, Gereau RW, Wiley JL, Fowler CJ . Biochanin A, a naturally occurring inhibitor of fatty acid amide hydrolase . British Journal of Pharmacology . 2010 . 160 . 3 . 549–560 . 10.1111/j.1476-5381.2010.00716.x . 20590565 . 2931556 .