Abstract
A new isoflavone, 7,2',4'-trihydroxyisoflavone-4'-O-beta-D-glucopyranoside has been isolated from the aerial part of Crotalaria sessiliflora. The isoflavone glucoside enhanced the proliferation of the MCF-7 human breast cancer cell line, which possesses estrogen receptor (ER) and responds to estrogen in culture. The estrogenic property of the isoflavone glucoside was blocked by the known ER antagonist tamoxifen, indicating the involvement of the ER. Furthermore, the isoflavone glucoside was found to enhance the acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activity of the rat neuronal cell line PC12 at low concentrations of nerve growth factor (NGF).