Unveiling the Endocrine-Disrupting Potential of Plant-Derived Compounds: An Ecotoxicological Review

Secondary metabolites derived from plants, such as flavonoids, alkaloids, and terpenoids, are being increasingly utilized because of their bioactivity and ubiquitous distribution. Although their pharmacological uses and agricultural applications are well studied, their potential role as endocrine-disrupting compounds (EDCs) in non-target environmental organisms is largely unknown. This review aims to update our knowledge on the endocrine-disrupting effects induced by plant-derived metabolites in environmental testing models. We review guidelines and conceptual models for standardized testing approaches used to assess endocrine disruption and identify critical data gaps in the context of mammalian test systems compared to those for environmental species. We also emphasize the known endocrine mechanisms, including the regulation of estrogen and thyroid pathways and their effects on reproduction and hormonal regulation in environmental species. By integrating evidence across diverse biological systems, this work intends to provide a link between toxicological and ecological perspectives on the emerging role of plant-derived metabolites as potential EDCs in natural ecosystems. Importantly, we highlight that an extensive assessment of plant-derived metabolites is required to improve understanding of their ecological hazards and the mechanisms of their effects.