Coumestrol, a potent Phytoestrogen to control male animal’s fertility: A review

Abstract

Phytoestrogens are plant substances which are produced by plants to protect themselves from grazing by herbivores. Phytoestrogens have been classified broadly into coumestanes, flavonols, isoflavonoids, lignans, mycotoxins, prenyl flavonoids and stilbens based on their chemical structure. Coumestrol is a phytoestrogen belonging to the coumestanes family which was first identified in 1957 from ladino clover. Coumestrol binding with estrogen receptor in testes can disturb spermatogenesis and can impair steroidogenic processes of testes and it has been considered as an endocrine disrupting chemical. However, the whole concept of endocrine disrupting chemicals has been challenged lately and therefore caution is warranted while reporting its effect.