Progress in microbial conversion of soy isoflavones

Abstract:

Soy isoflavones are a group of secondary metabolites produced during the growth of soya plants and have various physiological functions, including antioxidative activity, anticarcinogenic activity, prevention of bone loss, and decreasing the morbidity of cardiovascular disease. It is known that after being absorbed, soy isoflavones are metabolized by intestinal microflora to different metabolites with higher or wider bioactivities in comparison to soy isoflavones. Therefore, the beneficial effects of soy isoflavones depend mainly on how soy isoflavones are metabolized by intestinal microflora rather than the total amount of soy isoflavones absorbed by individuals. This paper reviews the microbial bioconversion of soy isoflavones from numerous aspects, including the function and component of soy isoflavones, the absorption, degradation and isolation of soy isoflavones, the bioactivity and enhanced biosynthesis of the microbial metabolites of soy isoflavones. The present research state and existing problems are addressed. The trends in future development are prospected. Our purpose is to accelerate the research and development of the microbial metabolites of soy isoflavones.