Antioxidant Activity Of Estrogens

To delineate the mechanisms of action of estrogen in experimental systems of oxidative neuronal cell death, we have investigated the neuroprotective effects exhibited by a variety of estrogens from different sources.

Estrogens have antioxidant properties which are due to their ability to bind to estrogen receptors and to up-regulate the expression of antioxidant enzymes via intracellular signalling pathways.

In addition to hormonal activity, both natural and synthetic estrogenic compounds containing a phenolic structure possess pro-oxidant and/or antioxidant activities.

Background: Estrogens and their metabolites influence systemic oxidative balance by directly scavenging reactive oxygen species and upregulating antioxidant enzymes. Menopause leads to a marked...

The antioxidant activity of an estrogen depends not only on the hydrophilic or lipophilic nature of the scavenged radical, but also on the phenol and catechol structures of the estrogen compound.

To delineate the mechanisms of action of estrogen in experimental systems of oxidative neuronal cell death, we have investigated the neuroprotective effects exhibited by a variety of estrogens from different sources.