Extracts of various species of the Leguminosae family have estrogenic properties. For example, aqueous and ethanolic extracts of Pueraria lobata Willd. Ohwi of the Leguminosae family species possess estrogenic properties in both ER.alpha.+ and ER.beta.+ cells. These estrogenic effects include estrogen response element (ERE) stimulation as well as tumor necrosis factor (TNF) repression. Methods are provided for treating climacteric symptoms, breast and/or uterine cancer, and osteoporosis.