Phytoprogestogen

Phytoprogestogens, also known as phytoprogestins, are phytochemicals (that is, naturally occurring, plant-derived chemicals) with progestogenic effects.^[1][2]

Relative to their phytoestrogen counterparts, phytoprogestogens are rare.^[1] However, a number have been identified, including kaempferol, diosgenin (found in yam), apigenin (found in chasteberry),^[1][3] naringenin, and syringic acid, among others.^[2] In addition, 3,8-dihydrodiligustilide from Ligusticum chuanxiong is a potent progestogen (EC₅₀ = 90 nM), whereas riligustilide is a weak progestogen (EC₅₀ ≈ 81 μM).^[4][5]