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Updated: Jul 18, 2026
Screening for Phytoestrogens using a Cell-based Estrogen Receptor β Reporter Assay
Published on: June 7, 2020
In vitro estrogenic activity of formononetin by two bioassay systems
Zhao-Ning Ji1, W Y Zhao, G R Liao
1Department of Oncology, Yijishan Hospital, Wannan Medical College, Wuhu, China. jzning@hotmail.com
Aim:
To study the estrogenic activity of formononetin in vitro.
Methods:
We have established a highly sensitive bioassay system by placing estrogen-responsive elements upstream of the luciferase reporter gene, and used this assay to determine the estrogenic activity of formononetin. Cell growth was measured by the MTT (3-(4,5-dimethylthioazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide) assay and MG-63 cell function was studied by measuring alkaline phosphatase activity.
Results:
Formononetin activated expression of the estrogen-responsive reporter gene in human breast cell line MCF-7 in a concentration-dependent manner (0.5-500 microM), and this activation was inhibited by estrogen antagonist (ICI 182780 at 100 nM). Furthermore, it induced the proliferation of MCF-7 breast cancer cells and MG-63 osteosarcoma cells, and it also increased the alkaline phosphatase activity in MG-63 cells.
Conclusion:
Formononetin is a phytoestrogen that exhibits variable degrees of estrogen receptor agonism in different test systems.
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