Extracts of various species of the Moraceae family have estrogenic properties. For example, aqueous and ethanolic extracts of Ligustrum lucidum Ait. of the Oleaceae Family 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.