Isoflavones as Therapeutic Leads: From Natural Sources to Mechanisms and Translational

A special issue of Biomedicines (ISSN 2227-9059). This special issue belongs to the section "Drug Discovery, Development and Delivery".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 April 2026 | Viewed by 424

Special Issue Editors


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Guest Editor
Instituto de Saúde de Nova Friburgo, Universidade Federal Fluminense, Nova Friburgo, Brazil
Interests: natural product; cancer drugs; biological activity assays; chemotherapeutic; molecular targets
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Guest Editor
Departamento de Química Orgânica, Instituto de Química, Universidade Federal Fluminense, Niterói 24020-141, RJ, Brazil
Interests: natural products; phytochemistry; nuclear magnetic resonance; mass spectrometry and biological activities

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Isoflavones, a prominent class of phytoestrogens derived mainly from soy and other legumes, have attracted considerable attention due to their wide-ranging biological and pharmacological activities. Their potential roles extend from antioxidant and anti-inflammatory actions to modulatory effects on hormone-dependent pathways, cell cycle regulation, and apoptosis. Recent advances in preclinical and clinical studies have revealed their promise in the prevention and treatment of diverse human diseases, including cancer, cardiovascular disorders, neurodegeneration, and metabolic syndromes. Despite these promising findings, the translation of isoflavones into effective therapeutic applications requires deeper mechanistic insights, innovative delivery systems, and rigorous clinical validation.

This Special Issue aims to provide a comprehensive platform for advancing our understanding of isoflavones as therapeutic leads, bridging natural product research, mechanistic biology, and translational medicine. We invite contributions that align with the scope of Biomedicines, covering the discovery, characterization, and development of naturally driven therapeutics, with special emphasis on isoflavones. The collection will highlight both experimental and clinical evidence, foster cross-disciplinary dialog, and pave the way for novel therapeutic strategies based on these bioactive compounds. If at least eight contributions are collected, this Special Issue may also be published as a book volume.

In this Special Issue, we welcome both original research articles and review papers. Potential areas of interest include, but are not limited to, the following:

  • Natural sources, biosynthesis, and chemical characterization of isoflavones;
  • Molecular mechanisms of action (e.g., modulation of signaling pathways, apoptosis, oxidative stress, and inflammation);
  • Isoflavones in cancer biology, cardiovascular health, neuroprotection, and metabolic regulation;
  • Novel drug delivery systems, formulations, and bioavailability enhancement strategies;
  • Preclinical models and translational studies of isoflavones;
  • Clinical evidence, safety profiles, and therapeutic applications;
  • Synergistic effects of isoflavones with other bioactive molecules or conventional drugs.

We look forward to receiving your valuable contributions to this Special Issue.

Dr. Bruno Kaufmann Robbs
Prof. Dr. Lucas Silva Abreu
Guest Editors

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Keywords

  • isoflavones
  • phytoestrogens
  • natural bioactive compounds
  • mechanisms of action
  • translational medicine
  • therapeutic development
  • drug discovery

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Published Papers (1 paper)

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Review

25 pages, 754 KB  
Review
Anticancer Potential of Isoflavones: A Narrative Overview of Mechanistic Insights and Experimental Evidence from the Past Ten Years
by Maryna Schuenck Knupp, Lucas Nicolau de Queiroz, Mateus de Freitas Brito, Lucas Silva Abreu and Bruno Kaufmann Robbs
Biomedicines 2025, 13(12), 2990; https://doi.org/10.3390/biomedicines13122990 - 5 Dec 2025
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Abstract
Isoflavones are natural compounds abundantly found in soybeans, recognized for their anticancer potential, primarily through their activity as phytoestrogens, which inhibit estrogen receptors. Because cancer remains one of the leading causes of mortality worldwide, identifying compounds that may complement chemotherapy is of great [...] Read more.
Isoflavones are natural compounds abundantly found in soybeans, recognized for their anticancer potential, primarily through their activity as phytoestrogens, which inhibit estrogen receptors. Because cancer remains one of the leading causes of mortality worldwide, identifying compounds that may complement chemotherapy is of great interest. In this review, we summarize advances reported over the past decade regarding the antitumor properties of isoflavones, with emphasis on both in vitro and in vivo effects, as well as chemical, botanical, and pharmacological aspects. A literature search was conducted using the PubMed database covering studies published from January 2014 to April 2025 using the following keywords: ‘isoflavones’ and ‘anticancer’, ‘antitumoral’, and ‘antiproliferative’ and ‘cytotoxicity’. Genistein and daidzein emerge as the most extensively studied isoflavones, with well-documented anticancer activity. Reported anticancer effects include induction of apoptosis, ROS generation, cell cycle arrest, inhibition of cell migration and invasion, loss of mitochondrial membrane potential, modulation of estrogen-related pathways, and antiangiogenic activity. In addition to these mechanistic findings, several isoflavones demonstrated significant tumor growth inhibition in xenograft models, reinforcing their translational potential. Additionally, synergistic interactions with chemotherapeutic drugs and natural compounds and new drug delivery systems have been described. Breast and prostate cancer cell lines were the most investigated due to isoflavones’ estrogen-like effects. However, the cell death mechanisms of newly discovered compounds still require further investigation. Full article
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