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 human breast cell proliferation assay, we have compared the estrogenicity of 17 chromatographically-homogeneous zearalenones. Both similarities and substantial differences from published results in intact animal systems were observed. Substantial human estrogenicity was retained even in analogs lacking hydroxylation on the aromatic and macrocyclic rings.