Daidzein, an isoflavonoid phytoestrogenic compound found in soybeans, possesses various biological properties. It may induce apoptosis of choriocarcinoma cells in a dose-dependent manner via the mitochondrial apoptotic pathway, in addition, it promotes proliferation and differentiation in osteoblastic OCT1 cells via activation of the BMP-2/Smads pathway. Daidzein exerts neuroprotective effects through the novel extranuclear GPR30 and the classical transcriptionally acting ERβ.

Formononetin, an isoflavone, derived from Astragalus membranaceus, possesses the potential to reduce obesity and associated metabolic disorders. Formononetin displays estrogenic properties and induces angiogenesis activities. It regulates adipocyte thermogenesis as a partial PPARγ agonist and produces proangiogenesis effects through estrogen receptor alpha (ERα)-enhanced ROCK-II signaling pathways, by direct binding to the ligand-binding domain (LBD) of ERα. Besides, was shown, that formononetin inhibits HMGB1 release by decreasing HMGB1 acetylation via upregulating SIRT1 in a PPARδ-dependent manner and the identification of this process may help to treat inflammation-related disorders.

Biochanin A, a natural organic compound derived from herbal plants such as peanuts, soy, and red clover, possesses various pharmacological properties including antioxidant and anti-inflammatory. In addition, the compound has anticancer activity, which was shown in the following cells: head and neck squamous cell carcinoma and in osteosarcoma. In both cases, biochanin A induced apoptotic signaling pathway. It has also been found biochanin-A was an inhibitor of fatty acid amide hydrolase.

Genistin is an 7-O-beta-D-glucosideform of genistein and is the predominant form of the isoflavone naturally occurring in a number of dietary plants like soy and kudzu. In vitro study have shown that both genistin and genistein are capable of enhancing bone metabolism in the femoral-metaphyseal tissues of elderly rats. The presence of genistein or genistin in the tissue culture caused a significant increase in alkaline phosphatase activity, deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) and calcium contents. The effect of genistein was greater than that of genistin. It is also revealed that genistin has a strong bone loss preventive activity on experimental rats, and is especially enhanced by combination with fructooligosaccharides. The amount of new bone produced by grafting genistin in collagenmatrix was compared to the bone produced by collagen matrix alone in New Zealand White rabbits, and was observed that genistin caused significant increase in bone formation.

Glycitein is an orally active flavonoid, which possesses estrogenic activity. It was discovered, that glycitein suppresses osteoclast generation and induces osteoclast apoptosis and exerts bone beneficial effects.