Endocrine disruptors natural compounds

Xenoestrogens, exhibiting a wide molecular diversity, are found in a number of cosmetic products, such as plasticizers, perfume fixatives, and solvents (e.g., dibutyl phthalate), industrial chemicals and pollutants such as insecticides (e.g., methoxychlor, DDT, and DDE), epoxy resins, and polycarbonate (e.g., bisphenol A), and herbicides (e.g., simazine). This group of chemicals has been classified as environmental endocrine disruptor compounds (EDCs), defined as exogenous agents that interfere with the synthesis, transport, binding, action, or elimination of natural hormones in the body that are responsible for the maintenance of homeostasis, reproduction, development, and/or behavior. A list of representative chemicals is shown in Table 1 based on commercial usage. 

Fig. 1. Estrogen and estrogen mimics. Many natural plant compounds (e.g. coumestrol) and synthetic chemicals (e.g. ethynylestradiol, diethylstilbestrol, 4-nonylphenol, o,p DDT, and kepone) act as endocrine disruptors by mimicking or blocking normal estrogen function via estrogen receptor dependent or independent mechanisms.

The effect of these compounds on human health has been a major cause of concern. Toxicity to humans depends on exact structure, but exposure is ubiquitous and involves a mixture of compounds, from fossil fuel and natural and anthropogenic burning and from food, mainly grilled or barbecued meat. In the broader environment, PAHs are endocrine disruptors and bind to the aryl hydrocarbon receptor. They have been shown to depress immune function in some wildlife. They may be responsible for reproductive disorders in aquatic organisms, especially in shellfish and sediment dwellers. 

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