Structure-activity relationships for human estrogenic activity in zearalenone mycotoxins

Zearalenones are estrogenic Fusarium mycotoxins consisting of a resorcinol moiety fused to a 14-member macrocyclic lactone. Using an improved MCF7 hum an breast cell proliferation assay, we have compared the estrogenicity of 1 7 chromatographically-homogeneous zearalenones. Both similarities and subst antial differences from published results in intact animal systems were obs erved. Substantial human estrogenicity was retained even in analogs lacking hydroxylation on the aromatic and macrocyclic rings. (C) 2001 Elsevier Sci ence Ltd. All rights reserved.