Biochanin Powder

Biochanin Powder: Overview

Biochanin Powder(Biochanin A) is an isoflavone compound widely found in legumes, named after its initial isolation from chickpea sprouts. It is also abundant in red clover, alfalfa, and soybeans. As a natural plant source, biochanin A exhibits various significant biological activities and has important research value in medicine, nutrition, and agriculture.

I. Common Sources of Biochanin Powder Extraction

(I) Chickpeas

As a widely cultivated legume globally, chickpea seeds are rich in biochanin A and are one of the main raw materials for extracting this compound, possessing both edible and medicinal value.

(II) Red Clover

Red clover (also known as red trifoliate orange) is a perennial herb containing various isoflavones, among which biochanin A is present in high amounts, making it an important plant source for extraction.

(III) Alfalfa

Alfalfa is a high-quality forage, especially purple alfalfa, which is rich in various nutrients and bioactive substances, including a certain amount of Biochanin A, which has extraction potential.

(IV) Kudzu Root

Kudzu root is the dried root of a plant in the genus *Pueraria* of the legume family. It has medicinal value. In addition to containing components such as daidzein, it also contains a small amount of Biochanin A, which can be used as an auxiliary extraction source.

Biochanin Powder: Main Efficacy

Biochanin Powder(Biochanin A), a natural isoflavone, exhibits a variety of biological activities.

Endocrine Regulation

Possessing phytoestrogen properties, it can bidirectionally regulate hormone levels in the body, helping to maintain sex hormone balance and is often used to alleviate menopausal symptoms in women.

Cardiovascular Protection

By inhibiting cholesterol elevation and promoting its metabolism, it prevents lipid deposition and reduces platelet aggregation, thereby preventing atherosclerosis and thrombosis, demonstrating a clear protective effect on the cardiovascular system.

Anti-inflammatory and Antioxidant Effects

It can inhibit inflammatory signaling pathways (such as NF-κB), reducing the release of inflammatory factors; at the same time, it scavenge free radicals, reduce oxidative stress, and protect tissue cells from damage. Animal studies have shown that it has an improving effect on motor function, edema, and histopathology after spinal cord injury.

Neuroprotective Effects

Through multiple pathways, including inhibiting apoptosis and reducing inflammation and oxidative stress, it protects nerve cells, providing potential for the prevention and treatment of neurodegenerative diseases.

Antifungal Activity

It inhibits the growth of various fungi, providing a natural lead compound for antifungal drug development.

Anti-Osteoporosis Activity

By regulating bone metabolism-related cells and signaling pathways, it inhibits osteoclast formation and promotes osteoblast differentiation, thereby increasing bone density and reducing bone loss. It can be used for the prevention and improvement of osteoporosis.

Metabolic Regulation

In ruminants, it can optimize the rumen microbiota, improve nitrogen utilization, and reduce nitrogen emissions, showing potential as an environmentally friendly feed additive.

Biochanin Powder: Application Areas

Based on its diverse bioactivities, Biochanin Powder(Biochanin A) has practical and potential applications in multiple fields.

**Health Supplements**

With its antioxidant, anti-aging, endocrine-regulating, and immune-boosting effects, it is widely used in the development of dietary supplements and functional health products to help maintain health and slow down the aging process.

**Cosmetics**

Utilizing its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, when added to skincare products, it helps scavenge free radicals, reduce skin inflammation, and promote collagen synthesis, thereby moisturizing, anti-wrinkle, whitening, and improving overall skin health.

**Agriculture**

As a feed additive in ruminant farming, it optimizes rumen nitrogen metabolism, improves protein utilization efficiency, and reduces nitrogen emissions, which is of positive significance for promoting sustainable development in animal husbandry and environmental protection.

**Pharmaceuticals**

As an active ingredient or lead compound, it is used to develop potential drugs for treating cardiovascular diseases, menopausal syndrome, osteoporosis, and neurodegenerative diseases. Its pharmacological effects have attracted much attention in content determination, activity screening and efficacy experiments.

Biochanin Powder: Experimental data related to ruminants

This study focuses on the effects of biochanin powder (Biochanin A, BCA) on lactation performance, nitrogen metabolism, and blood metabolites in dairy cows.

Background

Due to the unique digestive mechanisms of ruminants such as dairy cows, nitrogen in feed (mainly derived from protein) is often not efficiently utilized, leading to feed waste and environmental stress. Therefore, improving nitrogen utilization efficiency and reducing nitrogen emissions are crucial for promoting sustainable development in animal husbandry.

Previous studies have attempted to improve urea nitrogen utilization using additives such as acetylhydroxamic acid and monensin, but long-term results have been unsatisfactory. Biochanin A (BCA) is a natural isoflavone widely found in legumes (such as red clover, alfalfa, and soybeans). Studies have shown that BCA can inhibit the activity of ammonia-producing bacteria in the rumen, reducing ammonia production and thus improving nitrogen utilization efficiency. Furthermore, previous studies have confirmed that BCA can improve the production performance and milk quality of dairy goats and sheep, but its comprehensive effects on the production performance and nitrogen metabolism of dairy cows are not fully understood. Therefore, this study aimed to systematically evaluate the effects of dietary BCA supplementation on lactation performance, nitrogen metabolism, and related blood parameters in dairy cows.

Materials and Methods

Thirty-six healthy Holstein dairy cows were selected and divided into three groups of 12 each for a 28-day feeding trial, with the first 21 days being the acclimatization period and the last 7 days being the sampling period. The experimental design was as follows:

Control group: fed a basal diet without BCA supplementation.

Low-dose group: 10 g of BCA was added to the basal diet daily.

High-dose group: 40 g of BCA was added to the basal diet daily.

BCA was administered twice daily at 8:00 AM and 3:00 PM in equal amounts. During days 26-28 of the experiment, the dry matter intake of each dairy cow was recorded, and feed, milk, blood, urine, and feces samples were collected proportionally for subsequent analysis of composition and metabolic indicators.

Experimental Results

·Lactation Performance

Compared to the control group, the low-dose group showed no significant changes in milk yield, energy-corrected milk, and feed conversion ratio.

The high-dose group showed a significant increase in milk yield (6.3%), energy-corrected milk yield (7.3%), and feed conversion ratio (12.7%), indicating that adding 40 g/day of BCA effectively improves the production efficiency of dairy cows.

·Milk Composition

The percentages of protein, fat, and lactose in milk did not differ significantly among the groups.

However, the actual yields of protein, lactose, and non-fat milk solids in the high-dose group were significantly increased by 9.2%, 5.5%, and 5.2%, respectively, indicating that BCA increased the total output of beneficial components in milk.

·Nitrogen Metabolism

The addition of BCA did not significantly affect nitrogen intake, nitrogen excretion in feces and urine.

However, the high-dose group showed significantly lower urea nitrogen levels in plasma and milk, while microbial nitrogen synthesis increased by 30.0%, and nitrogen use efficiency improved by 20.7%. This indicates that BCA helps dairy cows use more nitrogen for microbial protein synthesis, thereby improving overall nitrogen use efficiency.

·Blood Indicators

BCA supplementation did not significantly affect routine blood parameters (such as white blood cells and red blood cells) or plasma biochemical parameters (such as total protein, glucose, and liver and kidney function indicators).

Plasma levels of endocrine hormones such as growth hormone and insulin also showed no significant changes.

·Plasma Metabolite Analysis

Metabolic analysis revealed that BCA supplementation significantly altered 98 metabolites in dairy cow plasma.

Eighteen metabolites decreased in level, while two increased, primarily involving six key metabolic pathways: bile acid synthesis, aspartate metabolism, pyrimidine metabolism, arginine and proline metabolism, urea cycle, and ammonia cycle. These changes may be related to the mechanism by which BCA increases milk yield and optimizes nitrogen metabolism.

Conclusions

Supplementing dairy cow diets with chickpea sprout extract A (especially at a high dose of 40 g/day) can:

· Significantly increase milk yield, feed conversion ratio, and the actual yield of protein, lactose, and other components in milk;

· Reduce urea nitrogen levels in plasma and milk, and improve microbial nitrogen synthesis and nitrogen utilization efficiency;

· Optimize the body's nitrogen metabolism by regulating six metabolic pathways, including bile acid synthesis and the urea cycle;

· Have no adverse effects on routine blood tests, biochemical indicators, and hormone levels in dairy cows, indicating good safety at this dosage.

These results provide a scientific basis for using BCA as a natural and efficient feed additive to improve dairy cow production performance and nitrogen utilization efficiency.

Reference:

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.aninu.2024.05.004

YTBIO: Biochanin A Supplier

YTBIO is dedicated to developing high-purity 98% Biochanin A products. We adhere to a quality-centric approach, strictly controlling every step from raw material traceability to the production process to ensure that each batch of product possesses excellent stability and bioactivity.

Inquiries and cooperation are welcome. For more product information and technical solutions, please contact us.

Email: sales@sxytorganic.com