Guan, Lei. / Thesis (M.Phil.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2005. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 123-145). / Abstracts in English and Chinese. / ACKNOWLEDGEMENT --- p.I / ABSTRACT --- p.II / LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS --- p.VII / TABLE OF CONTENT --- p.IIX / Chapter Chapter 1 --- General Introduction --- p.1 / Chapter 1.1 --- Introduction --- p.1 / Chapter 1.2 --- Distribution and Origins --- p.1 / Chapter 1.3 --- History of Use --- p.2 / Chapter 1.4 --- Chemical Structure --- p.3 / Chapter 1.5 --- Physiologic Properties --- p.5 / Chapter 1.6 --- Absorption and Metabolism --- p.7 / Chapter 1.6.1 --- Concentration of Isoflavones in Plasma --- p.10 / Chapter 1.6.2 --- Urinary Excretion --- p.10 / Chapter 1.7 --- Healthy Effects --- p.11 / Chapter 1.7.1 --- Menopausal Symptom --- p.11 / Chapter 1.7.2 --- Cardiovascular Disease --- p.12 / Chapter 1.7.3 --- Osteoporosis --- p.13 / Chapter 1.7.4 --- Tumors --- p.14 / Chapter 1.7.4.1 --- Breast Cancer --- p.14 / Chapter 1.7.4.2 --- Prostate Cancer --- p.15 / Chapter 1.7.5 --- Alcohol Addiction --- p.16 / Chapter 1.7.6 --- Potential Adverse Effects --- p.16 / Chapter 1.8 --- Summary --- p.17 / Chapter Chapter 2 --- Determination of Isoflavones in Soybean and Gegen --- p.19 / Chapter 2.1 --- Introduction --- p.19 / Chapter 2.1.1 --- Classification and Structure of Phytoestrogens --- p.19 / Chapter 2.1.2 --- Isoflavones in Soybeans and Gegen --- p.21 / Chapter 2.1.3 --- Methods of Determination --- p.26 / Chapter 2.1.3.1 --- Isolation and Purification of Isoflavones --- p.26 / Chapter 2.1.3.2 --- Analytical Methods for Isoflavones in Soybeans and Gegen --- p.26 / Chapter 2.2 --- Objective --- p.28 / Chapter 2.3 --- Materials and Methods --- p.29 / Chapter 2.3.1 --- Extraction and Isolation of Soybean and Gegen Isoflavone Extracts --- p.29 / Chapter 2.3.2 --- HPLC Analysis --- p.29 / Chapter 2.3.2.1 --- Sample Preparation for the HPLC Analysis --- p.29 / Chapter 2.3.2.2 --- HPLC Analysis --- p.30 / Chapter 2.3.3.3 --- Qualitative Analysis of the Isoflavones and Their Glycosides in Soybean and Gegen --- p.30 / Chapter 2.4 --- Results --- p.31 / Chapter 2.4.1 --- Isoflavone Identification of Soybean Extract --- p.31 / Chapter 2.4.2 --- Isoflavone Identification of Gegen Extract --- p.33 / Chapter 2.5 --- Discussion --- p.35 / Chapter Chapter 3 --- Hypocholesterolemic Effects of Soybean and Gegen Isoflavone Extracts in Ovariectomized，Intact Male and Castrated Golden Syrian Hamsters --- p.38 / Chapter 3.1 --- Introduction --- p.38 / Chapter 3.2 --- Objective --- p.41 / Chapter 3.3 --- Materials and Methods --- p.42 / Chapter 3.3.1 --- Preparation of Soybean and Gegen Isoflavone Extracts --- p.42 / Chapter 3.3.2 --- Animals and Diets --- p.42 / Chapter 3.3.3 --- Serum Lipid and Lipoprotein Determinations --- p.45 / Chapter 3.3.4 --- Determination of Cholesterol Concentration in the Organs --- p.45 / Chapter 3.3.5 --- Statistics --- p.46 / Chapter 3.4 --- Results --- p.48 / Chapter 3.4.1 --- Food Intake and Body and Relative Organ Weights --- p.48 / Chapter 3.4.2 --- Effects of Soybean and Gegen Isoflavone Extracts on Serum and Organ Cholesterol in Ovariectomized and Intact Male and Castrated Hamsters --- p.56 / Chapter 3.5 --- Discussion --- p.61 / Chapter Chapter 4 --- Possible Developmental and Reproductive Toxicity of Soybean Isoflavones on SD Rats --- p.67 / Chapter 4.1 --- Introduction --- p.67 / Chapter 4.2 --- Objective --- p.70 / Chapter 4.3 --- Materials and Methods --- p.71 / Chapter 4.3.1 --- Diet --- p.71 / Chapter 4.3.2 --- Animals --- p.73 / Chapter 4.3.3 --- Study Design --- p.73 / Chapter 4.3.4 --- Measurement of Reproductive Hormones --- p.74 / Chapter 4.3.5 --- Measurement of Sperm Number --- p.74 / Chapter 4.3.6 --- Statistics --- p.75 / Chapter 4.4 --- Results --- p.77 / Chapter 4.4.1. --- Food Intake and Food Efficiency Ratio --- p.77 / Chapter 4.4.2 --- Growth Trend --- p.79 / Chapter 4.4.3 --- Organ Weight --- p.82 / Chapter 4.4.3.1 --- Absolute Organ Weight --- p.82 / Chapter 4.4.3.2 --- Relative Organ Weight --- p.84 / Chapter 4.4.4 --- Reproductive Hormone Levels --- p.86 / Chapter 4.4.5 --- Epididymis Parameters of Male Rats --- p.88 / Chapter 4.5 --- Discussion --- p.90 / Chapter Chapter 5 --- Possible Developmental and Reproductive Toxicity of Gegen Isoflavones on SD Rats --- p.97 / Chapter 5.1 --- Introduction --- p.97 / Chapter 5.2 --- Objective --- p.99 / Chapter 5.3 --- Materials and Methods --- p.100 / Chapter 5.3.1 --- Animals and Diets --- p.100 / Chapter 5.3.2 --- Study Design --- p.100 / Chapter 5.3.3 --- Statistics --- p.101 / Chapter 5.4 --- Results --- p.103 / Chapter 5.4.1 --- Food Consumption and Food Efficiency Ratio --- p.103 / Chapter 5.4.2 --- Growth Trend --- p.105 / Chapter 5.4.3 --- Organ Weights --- p.108 / Chapter 5.4.3.1 --- Absolute Organ Weights --- p.108 / Chapter 5.4.3.2 --- Relative Organ Weight --- p.110 / Chapter 5.4.4 --- Reproductive Hormone Levels --- p.112 / Chapter 5.4.5 --- Epididymis Parameters of Male Rats --- p.114 / Chapter 5.5 --- Discussion --- p.116 / Chapter Chapter 6 --- Conclusions --- p.121 / References --- p.123