Phytohormones in Food
Felix Weber
2026-03-24
6 min. read
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Phytochemicals are becoming increasingly popular among researchers, doctors, and dietitians. What is this group of chemicals that is generating such great interest in the worlds of science, diet, and cosmetology? We invite you to learn more.
What exactly are phytoestrogens?
Phytoestrogens are chemical substances found in plants that exhibit effects similar to estrogens, the sex hormones found in humans. However, their impact on the body is considerably weaker than that of human hormones. Furthermore, phytoestrogens possess additional properties, such as antioxidant, antimutagenic, fungicidal, and anti-inflammatory. Three primary groups of phytoestrogens can be distinguished: flavonoids (isoflavones, isoflavanones, isoflavanes, and cumestans); lignans (predominantly secoisolariciresinol, matairesinol); stilbenes (predominantly resveratrol). It's worth mentioning that quercetin, a common anti-inflammatory and anti-allergic agent, is also classified as a phytoestrogen, although its effects are substantially weaker.
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