Biological Activities, Health Benefits and Synthesis of Equol and Its Derivatives: A Comprehensive Review

Equol is a metabolite transformed from daidzein by intestinal microorganisms and has received extensive attention due to its various pharmacological activities and therapeutic potential. In recent years, with the in-depth study of the biological activity of equol, the development of its derivatives has gradually become a research hotspot. These derivatives may exhibit stronger biological activities or more extensive pharmacological effects through structural modification or functional optimization. This review describes the research progress of equol and its derivatives in recent years, with a focus on the expansion of the synthetic mechanism and pathway of equol and its derivatives, and the exploration of the biological activities and functional development of equol and its derivatives. These advances will lay the foundation for the development of equol based nutrition and targeted therapy, thus providing new ideas and methods for the treatment of related diseases.