Zeranol
Encyclopedia
Zeranol is a non-steroid
al estrogen
agonist. It is a mycotoxin
, derived from fungi in the Fusarium
family, and may be found as a contaminant in fungus-infected crops. It is 3-4x more potent as an estrogen agonist than the related compound zearalenone
.
Zeranol is approved for use as a growth promoter in livestock, including beef cattle, in the United States. In Canada, it is approved for use in beef cattle only. Its application is not approved for use in the European Union.
Recently the group of Bern and collaborator has shown the inhibiting action of isoflavonas on the growth of cells of cancer of breast induced by xenoestrogen
s such as o,p'-DDT and alkylphenol
s. Such studies have suggested phytoestrogens could be inhibiting the hormonal action of the natural estrogens.
Obese individuals may be at greater risk of developing zeranol-induced breast cancer.
Steroid
A steroid is a type of organic compound that contains a characteristic arrangement of four cycloalkane rings that are joined to each other. Examples of steroids include the dietary fat cholesterol, the sex hormones estradiol and testosterone, and the anti-inflammatory drug dexamethasone.The core...
al estrogen
Estrogen
Estrogens , oestrogens , or œstrogens, are a group of compounds named for their importance in the estrous cycle of humans and other animals. They are the primary female sex hormones. Natural estrogens are steroid hormones, while some synthetic ones are non-steroidal...
agonist. It is a mycotoxin
Mycotoxin
A mycotoxin is a toxic secondary metabolite produced by organisms of the fungus kingdom, commonly known as molds. The term ‘mycotoxin’ is usually reserved for the toxic chemical products produced by fungi that readily colonize crops...
, derived from fungi in the Fusarium
Fusarium
Fusarium is a large genus of filamentous fungi widely distributed in soil and in association with plants. Most species are harmless saprobes, and are relatively abundant members of the soil microbial community. Some species produce mycotoxins in cereal crops that can affect human and animal health...
family, and may be found as a contaminant in fungus-infected crops. It is 3-4x more potent as an estrogen agonist than the related compound zearalenone
Zearalenone
Zearalenone , also known as RAL and F-2 mycotoxin, is a potent estrogenic metabolite produced by some Gibberella species.Several Fusarium species produce toxic substances of considerable concern to livestock and poultry producers: namely, deoxynivalenol, T-2 toxin, HT-2 toxin, diacetoxyscirpenol ...
.
Zeranol is approved for use as a growth promoter in livestock, including beef cattle, in the United States. In Canada, it is approved for use in beef cattle only. Its application is not approved for use in the European Union.
Recently the group of Bern and collaborator has shown the inhibiting action of isoflavonas on the growth of cells of cancer of breast induced by xenoestrogen
Xenoestrogen
Xenoestrogens are a type of xenohormone that imitates estrogen. They are widely used industrial compounds such as PCB, BPA and Phthalates, that have estrogenic effects on a living organism even though they differ chemically from the naturally occurring estrogenic substances internally produced by...
s such as o,p'-DDT and alkylphenol
Alkylphenol
Alkylphenols are a family of organic compounds obtained by the alkylation of phenols. The term is usually reserved for commercially important propylphenol, butylphenol, amylphenol, heptylphenol, octylphenol, nonylphenol, dodecylphenol and related "long chain alkylphenols"...
s. Such studies have suggested phytoestrogens could be inhibiting the hormonal action of the natural estrogens.
Obese individuals may be at greater risk of developing zeranol-induced breast cancer.