United States of America, As Represented by the Secretary of Agriculture

The University of Toledo

Xavier University of Louisiana

Tulane Educational Fund

John A McLachlan

Matthew E Burow

Stephen M Boue

Thomas E Cleveland

Paul W Erhardt

Thomas E Wiese

Rahul Khupse

Jefferey G Sarver

Two distinct methods are disclosed and claimed for synthesizing glyceollin I plus glyceollin II as a mixture and as their pure forms. Stereochemical isomers and various synthetic intermediates are also synthesized and claimed for their novel compositions of matter. All compounds and their mixtures are claimed for use in formulations that are useful to treat or prevent cancer, or that have utility as selective estrogen receptor modulators, such formulations including enhanced or medical foods, dietary supplements and ethical pharmaceutical agents.

Methods for synthesizing glycinols, glyceollins I and II, compositions of selected intermediates, and therapeutic uses thereof

The flavonoid family of phytochemicals, particularly those derived from soy, has received attention regarding their hormonal activity and their effects on human health and disease. The types and amounts of these compounds in soy and other plants are controlled by both constitutive expression and stress-induced biosynthesis. The health benefits of soy may therefore be dependent upon the amounts of the various hormonally active phytochemicals present. We have identified increased biosynthesis of the isoflavonoid phytoalexin compounds, Glyceollins I, II and III, in soy plants grown under stressed conditions (elicited soy), which exhibit marked anti-estrogenic effects on ER function. Here we demonstrate that specific glyceollins, isolated from elicited soy, displayed anti-estrogenic activity, suppressing basal and estrogen stimulated colony formation of ER-positive estrogen dependent breast cancer cells and inhibiting ER-dependent gene expression of progesterone receptor (PgR) and stromal derived factor-1 (SDF1/CXCL12). Examining the effects of glyceollin on in vivo tumor formation/growth we demonstrate the ability of glyceollins to significantly suppress basal and estrogen-stimulated tumor growth of ER-positive MCF-7 breast and BG-1 ovarian carcinoma cells in ovariectomized female nude mice. We further demonstrate that the effects of glyceollins on suppression of tumor growth correlate with inhibition of estrogen stimulated PgR expression. In contrast to the uterotropic activity of tamoxifen the glyceollins displayed no uterine agonist activity. The Glyceollin (I-III) compounds may represent an important component of the health effects of soy as well as represent novel anti-estrogens useful in the prevention or treatment of breast and ovarian carcinoma.

Antiestrogenic glyceollins suppress human breast and ovarian carcinoma proliferation and tumorigenesis

Growing community of inventors

New Orleans, LA, United States of America

John A McLachlan