Biochanin A is an O-methylated isoflavone. It is a natural organic compound in the class of phytochemicals known as flavonoids. Biochanin A can be found in red clover in soy, in alfalfa sprouts, in peanuts, in chickpea (Cicer arietinum) and in other legumes.
Biochanin A is classified as a phytoestrogen. It has also been found to be a weak inhibitor of fatty acid amide hydrolase in vitro.
The enzyme biochanin-A reductase converts biochanin A to 2,3-dihydrobiochanin A using nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADPH) as its cofactor.
The enzyme isoflavone-7-O-beta-glucoside 6"-O-malonyltransferase uses malonyl-CoA and biochanin A 7-O-ò-<small>D</small>-glucoside to produce CoA and biochanin A 7-O-(6-O-malonyl-ò-<small>D</small>-glucoside).