Kaempferol - NutraPedia

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Kaempferol Overview

1) Conditions Studied

Kaempferol, a natural flavonoid found in various plants and dietary sources, has been studied for its potential therapeutic effects on several conditions, including:

  • Cancer
  • Cardiovascular diseases
  • Diabetes
  • Neurodegenerative disorders
  • Inflammation-related conditions
  • Oxidative stress

2) Efficacy in Treating Conditions

While kaempferol has shown promise in preclinical studies, such as cell culture and animal models, there is currently insufficient evidence to conclusively determine its effectiveness in treating the aforementioned conditions in humans. More rigorous clinical trials are needed to ascertain its therapeutic potential.

3) Health Benefits

Kaempferol is associated with several health benefits, primarily due to its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. These benefits include:

  • Reducing the risk of chronic diseases
  • Protecting against oxidative damage to cells and DNA
  • Modulating immune response
  • Possessing antimicrobial activities
  • Potentially promoting cardiovascular health

4) Potential Downsides

While kaempferol is generally considered safe when consumed in amounts typically found in a regular diet, some potential downsides include:

  • Interactions with certain medications
  • Possible allergic reactions in sensitive individuals
  • Insufficient data on the safety of high-dose supplements
  • Potential for toxicity at very high intakes

5) Genetic Variations and Effects

The impact of kaempferol may vary based on individual genetic variations. Some studies suggest that genetic polymorphisms could influence how effectively an individual metabolizes flavonoids like kaempferol, potentially affecting its bioavailability and efficacy. However, further research is needed to clearly understand the relationship between kaempferol and specific genetic variations.

Research Summary on the Effects and Properties of Kaempferol

Kaempferol in Fatty Acid Inhibition: Studies have shown that kaempferol, a flavonol found in galangal and other plants, can inhibit fatty acid synthase (FAS), an enzyme involved in lipid biosynthesis. Kaempferol, along with galangin and quercetin, contributes to reversible FAS inhibition, suggesting potential therapeutic applications in conditions related to fatty acid metabolism.

Kaempferol and Iron Bioavailability: Research indicates that kaempferol significantly inhibits iron bioavailability in a dose-dependent manner. This effect is particularly notable in the hulls of red and pinto beans, where kaempferol's presence reduces the bioavailability of iron, implicating the 3',4'-dihydroxy group on kaempferol's B-ring as a key factor in this inhibitory process.

Pharmacokinetics and Bioavailability: In rats, kaempferol demonstrates rapid clearance from the bloodstream after intravenous administration and quick absorption orally, albeit with very low oral bioavailability due to significant first-pass metabolism. These pharmacokinetic properties are important for understanding kaempferol's therapeutic potential and bioactive effects.

Osteogenic Effects: Kaempferol has been found to increase the formation of mineralized nodules in bone cells and may have a bone-building effect without mimicking estrogen. In osteoporosis models, kaempferol treatment led to increased bone mineral density and reduced bone marrow fat formation, suggesting a potential role in treating bone loss conditions.

Metabolism by Liver Microsomes: Kaempferol is extensively metabolized in rat liver microsomes, primarily through conjugation. The metabolism pathways and enzymatic preferences provide insight into how kaempferol is processed in the body and its potential interactions with other compounds.

Neuroprotective and Anti-inflammatory Effects: Kaempferol exhibits neuroprotective effects against cell damage by inhibiting NADPH oxidase activity. It also has anti-inflammatory properties, reducing the formation of harmful compounds like advanced glycation endproducts and their associated oxidative stress and inflammation in the kidneys.

Glucose Metabolism: Kaempferol 3-neohesperidoside, a flavonoid glycoside, has been documented to stimulate glucose uptake in muscle tissue, suggesting potential benefits for diabetes management by mimicking insulin-like properties.

Anticancer Potential: There is evidence that kaempferol can inhibit fatty acid synthesis in cancer cells, suppress cell proliferation, and induce apoptosis, illustrating a possible mechanism by which kaempferol and other flavonoids may exert anti-cancer effects.

Estrogenic Activity: While kaempferol is investigated for its various biological activities, it is also essential to consider its interaction with estrogen receptors and potential estrogen-like effects, which could contribute to its diverse therapeutic effects.

Conclusion: Kaempferol is a bioactive flavonol with a wide range of potential health benefits, including inhibitory effects on fatty acid metabolism, reduced iron absorption, bone-strengthening properties, neuroprotective actions, and possible anti-cancer activities. Further research is required to fully understand its mechanisms and therapeutic applications.

References:


  1. Phenolic compounds from Nymphaea odorata
  2. Presence of fatty acid synthase inhibitors in the rhizome of Alpinia officinarum hance
  3. Kaempferol in red and pinto bean seed (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) coats inhibits iron bioavailability using an in vitro digestion/human Caco-2 cell model
  4. Flavonol glycosides from the seed coat of a new manteca-type dry bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.)
  5. Metabolism, oral bioavailability and pharmacokinetics of chemopreventive kaempferol in rats
  6. Kaempferol has osteogenic effect in ovariectomized adult Sprague-Dawley rats
  7. In vitro biotransformation of flavonoids by rat liver microsomes
  8. Glucuronidation of flavonoids by recombinant UGT1A3 and UGT1A9
  9. Glucurono- and sulfo-conjugation of kaempferol in rat liver subcellular preparations and cultured hepatocytes
  10. Kaempferol attenuates 4-hydroxynonenal-induced apoptosis in PC12 cells by directly inhibiting NADPH oxidase
  11. Kaempferol modulates pro-inflammatory NF-kappaB activation by suppressing advanced glycation endproducts-induced NADPH oxidase
  12. Insulinomimetic effect of kaempferol 3-neohesperidoside on the rat soleus muscle
  13. Signaling pathways of kaempferol-3-neohesperidoside in glycogen synthesis in rat soleus muscle
  14. Insulinomimetic effects of kaempferitrin on glycaemia and on 14C-glucose uptake in rat soleus muscle
  15. Kaempferol attenuates 2-deoxy-d-ribose-induced oxidative cell damage in MC3T3-E1 osteoblastic cells
  16. Induction of cancer cell apoptosis by flavonoids is associated with their ability to inhibit fatty acid synthase activity
  17. Kaempferol and quercetin isolated from Euonymus alatus improve glucose uptake of 3T3-L1 cells without adipogenesis activity
  18. Relationship between estrogen receptor-binding and estrogenic activities of environmental estrogens and suppression by flavonoids
  19. Identification of a potent phytoestrogen in hops (Humulus lupulus L.) and beer
  20. Botanical modulation of menopausal symptoms: mechanisms of action?
  21. Pharmacological inhibitors of Fatty Acid Synthase (FASN)--catalyzed endogenous fatty acid biogenesis: a new family of anti-cancer agents?
  22. Kaempferol induces apoptosis in two different cell lines via Akt inactivation, Bax and SIRT3 activation, and mitochondrial dysfunction
  23. Bioaccessibility of phenols in common beans ( Phaseolus vulgaris L.) and iron (Fe) availability to Caco-2 cells
  24. Use of white beans instead of red beans may improve iron bioavailability from a Tanzanian complementary food mixture


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