Beneficiary and Adverse Effects of Phytoestrogens: A Potential Constituent of Plant-based Diet.

Background: Phytoestrogens are non-endocrine, non-steroidal secondary derivatives of plants and consumed through a plant-based diet also named as "dietary estrogens". The major sources of phytoestrogens are soy and soy-based foods, flaxseed, chickpeas, green beans, dairy products, etc. The dietary inclusion of phytoestrogen based foods plays a crucial role in the maintenance of metabolic syndrome cluster, including obesity, diabetes, blood pressure, cancer, inflammation, cardiovascular diseases, postmenopausal ailments and their complications.

Baicalein, a flavonoid, causes prolonged estrus and suppressed fertility output upon prenatal exposure in female mice.

Objectives: Baicalein (BC), a phytoestrogen of the flavonoid family shows beneficiary and adverse effects. Effect of BC on reproduction is still not understood. Reproductive toxic effects on female mice were tested in this study.