Nutrabiotech Equol 98% Powder, high purity natural Equol isoflavone metabolite, selective ERβ agonist, antioxidant anti-inflammatory compound, hormone balance and anti-tumor research raw material, 1G 20G 100G bulk supply

R,S‑Equol 99% Powder rac‑Equol (±)‑Equol CAS 94105‑90‑5 Racemic Isoflavandiol Estrogen‑Receptor Dual‑Enantiomer Agonist Soy‑Daidzein Gut‑Metabolite Biochemical Research Reagent

High‑purity 99% white‑off‑white crystalline R,S‑Equol (rac‑Equol, ±‑Equol) powder CAS 94105‑90‑5, racemic‑mixture composed of R‑Equol and S‑Equol enantiomers, the intestinal‑bacteria metabolite converted from soybean‑derived daidzein isoflavone.

This racemic isoflavandiol compound acts as dual‑estrogen‑receptor ligand; S‑enantiomer owns high‑affinity binding for ER‑β while R‑Equol prefers ER‑α receptor, the racemate delivers moderate binding‑affinity to both ERα and ER‑β (EC50=200 nM and 74 nM). It possesses antioxidant, anti‑inflammatory, DHT‑blocking activity, inhibits MEK/ERK tumour‑transformation signalling pathway and promotes osteoblast proliferation‑differentiation via ER‑PKKα cascade.

Ideal for laboratory comparative‑stereoisomer screening, post‑menopausal hormone research, bone‑cell biology, prostate‑cell‑assay, vascular‑relaxation test and phytoestrogen‑related drug‑screening projects. Every batch is HPLC‑verified for 99%‑purity, custom‑sealed vial‑packaging and bulk‑powder supply are available for global stereochemistry‑biology and endocrinology‑research clients. This product is only intended for scientific‑lab research usage.

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R,S-Equol 99% Powder (CAS 94105-90-5) | Racemic Equol, ERβ-Selective Daidzein Metabolite Supplier

R,S-Equol CAS 94105-90-5
Racemic Equol — ERβ-Selective Daidzein Metabolite

R,S-Equol is the racemic (50:50) form of equol, an isoflavandiol produced in the large intestine when specific gut bacteria reduce the soy isoflavone daidzein. It behaves as a non-steroidal selective estrogen receptor modulator (SERM) with preference for estrogen receptor beta (ERβ), shows anti-androgenic activity through high-affinity binding of 5α-dihydrotestosterone (DHT), and is a potent antioxidant with greater biological activity than its parent compound daidzein. Supplied as 99% HPLC powder.

Racemic Equol (R,S) ERβ-Selective SERM Anti-Androgen (DHT) Potent Antioxidant Daidzein Metabolite Isoflavandiol Gut Microbiota-Driven
Request a Quote Technical Specs
242.27
MW (C15H14O3)
≥99%
Purity (HPLC)
ERβ-pref
Estrogen Receptor

Molecular Information

Name: R,S-Equol (racemic)
CAS: 94105-90-5
Formula: C15H14O3
MW: 242.27 g/mol
Purity: ≥99% (HPLC)
SMILES: C1Cc2ccc(O)cc2O
  C(c3ccc(O)cc3)C1
InChIKey: ADFCQWZHKCXPAJ
  -UHFFFAOYSA-N
MP: 172-176°C
Appearance: White to off-white powder
Solubility: DMSO, methanol, ethanol
Synonyms: (+/-)-Equol / rac-Equol
Storage: -20°C, cool, dry, dark
🧪
CAS Number
94105-90-5
⚖️
Molecular Weight
242.27
🎯
Primary Targets
ERβ / ERα
✅
Purity
≥99%

R,S-Equol Technical Specifications & QC Data

Complete physicochemical properties and quality control parameters for research-grade R,S-Equol / racemic equol powder (CAS 94105-90-5)

📋 Physicochemical Properties

  • Product NameR,S-Equol (Racemic Equol)
  • IUPAC Name3-(4-Hydroxyphenyl)-3,4-dihydro-2H-chromen-7-ol
  • CAS Number94105-90-5
  • Synonyms(+/-)-Equol / rac-Equol / 4',7-Isoflavandiol
  • Molecular FormulaC15H14O3
  • Molecular Weight242.27 g/mol
  • Exact Mass242.094 Da
  • StereochemistryRacemate (50:50 R / S) at C3
  • SMILESC1Cc2ccc(O)cc2OC(c3ccc(O)cc3)C1
  • InChIKeyADFCQWZHKCXPAJ-UHFFFAOYSA-N
  • AppearanceWhite to off-white crystalline powder
  • Melting Point172-176°C
  • OriginIntestinal metabolite of daidzein
  • MDL NumberMFCD00016662
  • PubChem CID382975

🔬 Quality Control & Handling

  • Purity (HPLC)≥99%
  • Enantiomeric RatioR:S ≈ 1:1 (racemic)
  • FormCrystalline powder
  • ColorWhite to off-white
  • Storage Condition-20°C, cool, dry, protected from light
  • HygroscopicityHygroscopic; keep tightly sealed with desiccant
  • ShippingAmbient or cold pack; light-protected vial
  • SolubilityDMSO, methanol, ethanol; insoluble in water
  • QC DocumentationCOA / HPLC / NMR / MS / heavy metals
  • Pack Sizes1g / 5g / 10g / 100g / 1KG
  • Stock StatusIn Stock
  • Use StatementResearch use only; not for human/clinical use

Molecular Targets & Signaling Partners

Equol's biology spans estrogen receptor subtypes, androgen-pathway modulation via DHT sequestration, and direct phenolic antioxidant activity

🎯 Estrogen Receptor Beta (ESR2) 🎯 Estrogen Receptor Alpha (ESR1) 🛡️ 5α-Dihydrotestosterone (DHT) ⚙️ Androgen Signaling Pathway 🧬 Estrogen Response Elements (ERE) 🔥 ROS / Free-Radical Scavenging 🦴 Bone & Osteoclast Modulation 🧠 Hypothalamic Thermoregulation 🫀 Vascular Endothelium 🦠 Equol-Producing Gut Bacteria

How R,S-Equol Works: From Daidzein to Tissue-Selective Estrogenicity

A stepwise view of bacterial metabolism, estrogen-receptor engagement, anti-androgenic sequestration and antioxidant action

1

Dietary Daidzein Intake

Soy foods and supplements deliver the isoflavone daidzein. Unlike equol, daidzein is planar, less estrogenic and is not directly produced as a mammalian metabolite — it requires colonic bacterial activation.

2

Gut Bacterial Reduction

Specific intestinal anaerobes reduce the C2-C3 double bond of the isoflavone C-ring, converting daidzein into equol — a non-planar isoflavan with a chiral centre at C3. Only "equol producers" harbour the necessary microbiota.

3

ERβ-Preferential Binding

Equol binds both estrogen receptors but with clear preference for ERβ (ESR2) over ERα (ESR1). Reported EC50 values are ~200 nM at ERα versus ~74 nM at ERβ; the S-enantiomer is ~9-fold ERβ-selective.

4

Coactivator Recruitment & Transcription

ERβ:equol complexes dimerize, recruit coactivators and engage estrogen-response elements (EREs), modulating genes in bone, brain, vasculature, prostate and colon — the basis of its tissue-selective SERM-like profile.

5

Anti-Androgenic DHT Sequestration

Equol binds 5α-dihydrotestosterone (DHT) directly with high affinity, sequestering the hormone and preventing androgen-receptor engagement — a distinct mechanism from classical androgen-receptor antagonists (Lund et al., Biol Reprod 2004).

6

Potent Phenolic Antioxidant

As an isoflavandiol with two phenolic hydroxyls, equol scavenges ROS and peroxyl radicals more effectively than daidzein, inhibits lipid peroxidation and chelates redox-active metal ions, contributing to vascular and cellular protection.

Research Applications of R,S-Equol

From phytoestrogen and SERM pharmacology to menopause, bone, hair-loss and gut-microbiota metabolism research

🧬

Phytoestrogen & SERM Signaling

A reference non-steroidal estrogen receptor modulator used to compare ERα vs ERβ signaling, coactivator recruitment, ERE-reporter assays and tissue-selective estrogenic profiling alongside genistein, daidzein and tamoxifen.

ER Pharmacology
🌡️

Menopause & Vasomotor Symptoms

Studied for hot flushes and night sweats via ERβ in the hypothalamic thermoregulatory centre. A key comparator in trials of direct equol supplementation for equol non-producers (e.g. Aso et al., Menopause 2012).

Women's Health
🦴

Bone Health & Osteoporosis

ERβ predominates in bone; equol is investigated for osteoblast/osteoclast balance, bone mineral density, menopausal bone loss and as an estrogen-depleted-model supplement to mitigate skeletal resorption.

Skeletal Biology
💇

Androgenetic Alopecia & Hair Follicle Research

Through high-affinity DHT sequestration, equol is a natural probe for androgen-driven follicular miniaturization. Used in dermal papilla, hair-follicle organoid and 5α-reductase/DHT-binding assays.

Dermatology
🩺

Prostate & BPH Biology

Equol's anti-androgenic and ERβ activity make it a tool in benign prostatic hyperplasia and prostate epithelial models, where DHT-driven hyperplasia and ERβ-mediated epithelial effects are studied (Lund et al., Biol Reprod 2004).

Andrology
🫀

Cardiovascular & Endothelial Function

Investigated for vascular endothelial function, arterial stiffness, lipid peroxidation inhibition and improved flow-mediated dilation — endpoints central to soy and phytoestrogen cardiovascular epidemiology.

Vascular Medicine
🦠

Gut Microbiota & Equol-Producer Metabolism

A focal metabolite for studying inter-individual variability in soy responsiveness. Used to phenotype equol producers vs non-producers, annotate daidzein-metabolizing taxa and model microbial biotransformation of isoflavones.

Microbiome
🌞

Skin Health & Photoprotection

ERβ in skin and equol's ROS-scavenging activity support studies of UV-induced oxidative stress, collagen integrity, photoaging and dermal antioxidant defense in keratinocyte and fibroblast models.

Dermatoscience
🛡️

Antioxidant & Redox Research

A convenient phenolic antioxidant standard for ORAC/TEAC radical-scavenging assays, lipid peroxidation inhibition, metal-chelation studies and comparison against daidzein, genistein and vitamin E analogues.

Redox Biology

Key Publications on R,S-Equol & Equol

From the identification of dietary non-steroidal estrogens to anti-androgen and menopause clinical research

Setchell KD, Borriello SP, Hulme P, Kirk DN, Axelson M. Nonsteroidal estrogens of dietary origin: possible roles in hormone-dependent disease. American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. 1984;40(3):569-578.
doi: 10.1093/ajcn/40.3.569
Muthyala RS, Ju YH, Sheng S, et al. Equol, a natural estrogenic metabolite from soy isoflavones: convenient preparation and determination of estrogenic activity. Bioorganic & Medicinal Chemistry. 2004;12(6):1559-1567.
doi: 10.1016/j.bmc.2003.11.037
Lund TD, Munson DJ, Haldy ME, Setchell KD, Lephart ED, Handa RJ. Equol is a novel anti-androgen that inhibits prostate growth and hormone feedback. Biology of Reproduction. 2004;70(4):1188-1195.
doi: 10.1095/biolreprod.103.023499
Aso T, Uchiyama S, Matsumura Y, et al. A natural S-equol supplement alleviates hot flushes and other menopausal symptoms in equol non-producers: a placebo-controlled, double-blind, randomized trial. Menopause. 2012;19(6):620-632.
doi: 10.1097/gme.0b013e3182371117
Jackson RL, Greiwe JS, Schwen RJ. Equol: a review of its role in the biology of aging. Journal of Nutrition, Health & Aging. 2011;15(1):56-60.
doi: 10.1007/s12603-011-0030-3

R,S-Equol Pack Sizes & Ordering Information

Research-grade R,S-Equol / racemic equol powder (CAS 94105-90-5) available in 1g / 5g / 10g / 100g / 1KG with full QC documentation and light-protected logistics

TierPack SizeStock StatusSuitable ForLead Time & Shipping
Standard1 gIn StockER binding/ERE-reporter assays, DHT-binding and antioxidant screeningSame/next-day ship; amber vial, desiccant
Medium5 gIn StockCell-culture studies, hair-follicle and dermal papilla assaysSame/next-day ship; light-protected packaging
Large10 gIn StockMulti-arm in vivo programs, bone and cardiovascular modelsSame/next-day ship; DHL/FedEx
Bulk100 gIn StockFormulation screening, microbiome-metabolite scale-upQuote to confirm; sealed drum, desiccant
Industrial1 KGMade to orderPilot/production scale, CMO supply, long-term supply agreementsScheduled batch delivery; validated freight

💡 Reference sizes shown above; R,S-Equol is hygroscopic and light-sensitive — store cool, dry and dark. For exact bulk pricing please contact us for a quote. Bulk orders qualify for tiered discounts.

R,S-Equol FAQ — Frequently Asked Questions

What is R,S-Equol (CAS 94105-90-5)?
R,S-Equol is the racemic mixture of equol, an isoflavandiol with molecular formula C15H14O3 and molecular weight 242.27 g/mol. Equol is not present in soy itself; it is generated in the large intestine when specific gut bacteria reduce the soy isoflavone daidzein. It behaves as a non-steroidal selective estrogen receptor modulator (SERM) with preference for ERβ, shows anti-androgenic activity and is a potent antioxidant, with higher biological activity than its parent compound daidzein.
How does equol differ from daidzein and genistein?
Daidzein and genistein are isoflavones present directly in soybeans. Equol is a downstream bacterial metabolite of daidzein in which the C2-C3 double bond of the isoflavone C-ring has been reduced, converting a planar isoflavone into a non-planar isoflavan with a chiral centre at C3. This structural change increases ERβ affinity, improves antioxidant capacity and confers a longer biological half-life and greater bioavailability than daidzein. Genistein is a separate isoflavone that is not converted to equol.
What is an equol producer and why does it matter?
Only individuals harbouring the right intestinal bacteria can convert dietary daidzein into equol. These people are called equol producers. Roughly 20-30% of Western adults are equol producers, compared with approximately 50-60% of adults in Japan, Korea and China who consume traditional soy-rich diets. Because many reported health benefits of soy track with equol rather than daidzein, producer status is a major confounding variable in soy clinical trials, and direct equol supplementation is used experimentally to bypass this inter-individual variability.
Why is equol described as ERβ-selective?
Equol binds both estrogen receptor subtypes but with clear preference for estrogen receptor beta (ERβ / ESR2) over estrogen receptor alpha (ERα / ESR1). Reported EC50 values for racemic equol are approximately 200 nM at ERα versus 74 nM at ERβ, and the S-enantiomer shows roughly nine-fold ERβ selectivity in binding assays. ERβ predominates in bone, brain, vasculature, prostate and colon, while ERα predominates in breast and uterus, so ERβ-preferential ligands are of interest as tissue-selective estrogenic tools with reduced proliferative signalling in classical ERα tissues.
How is equol anti-androgenic and relevant to hair-loss research?
Equol has an unusual anti-androgen mechanism. Rather than acting mainly as an androgen-receptor antagonist, equol binds 5α-dihydrotestosterone (DHT) itself with high affinity, sequestering the hormone and preventing it from engaging the androgen receptor, as described by Lund and colleagues in Biology of Reproduction (2004). Because DHT-driven follicular miniaturization is central to androgenetic alopecia and to benign prostatic hyperplasia biology, equol is widely studied as a natural DHT-sequestering agent in hair-follicle, dermal-papilla and prostate research models.
What is the difference between R,S-equol and S-equol?
Equol has a single chiral centre at C3 and therefore exists as two enantiomers. S-equol is the exclusive form produced by human gut bacteria and is the more potent estrogen receptor beta ligand, while R-equol is considerably weaker at ERβ though it retains antioxidant activity and shows relatively greater ERα preference. R,S-equol (CAS 94105-90-5) is the synthetic racemic 50:50 mixture and is the most widely used and cost-effective research form; enantiopure S-equol carries the separate CAS number 531-95-3. Choose the racemate for antioxidant, screening and general phytoestrogen work, and the enantiopure material when precise ERβ potency attribution is required.
How should R,S-Equol powder be dissolved and stored?
R,S-Equol is soluble in DMSO, methanol and ethanol and is essentially insoluble in water. Prepare concentrated stock solutions in DMSO or ethanol, aliquot into single-use amber vials and store at -20°C or -80°C protected from light. Keep the final organic solvent concentration at or below 0.1% v/v in cell culture. The solid is hygroscopic and sensitive to oxidation of its phenolic hydroxyl groups, so store it cool, dry, dark and tightly sealed, ideally under inert gas with desiccant.
Why is equol studied for menopause and bone health?
ERβ is abundantly expressed in bone, the hypothalamic thermoregulatory centre and the vasculature. Because equol is an ERβ-preferential ligand, it has been investigated for vasomotor symptoms such as hot flushes and night sweats, for bone mineral density and osteoclast activity, and for vascular endothelial function and arterial stiffness. Clinical work in equol non-producers, including the study by Aso and colleagues in Menopause (2012), examined whether supplying equol directly reproduces benefits otherwise limited to natural equol producers.
What purity, documentation and pack sizes are available?
R,S-Equol is supplied as a white to off-white crystalline powder at 99% HPLC purity. Every lot ships with a Certificate of Analysis reporting HPLC purity, 1H and 13C NMR structural confirmation, LC-MS identity, melting point, residual solvents, heavy metals and loss on drying. MSDS/SDS and Certificate of Origin are available on request. Catalog pack sizes are 1 g, 5 g, 10 g, 100 g and 1 KG, with the first four tiers in stock and the 1 KG industrial tier made to order.

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Research-grade R,S-Equol / racemic equol powder — 99% HPLC purity, COA included, 1g to 1KG
The ERβ-selective daidzein metabolite for phytoestrogen, anti-androgen (DHT) and antioxidant research — request a quote today

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Weight 10 g

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