Zearalenone [17924-92-4]

Zearalenone (CAS 17924-92-4) is a mycotoxin produced primarily by Fusarium fungi, frequently contaminating feed and food products. It exhibits estrogenic activity through interaction with estrogen receptors, thus altering endocrine signaling pathways. Although acutely low in toxicity, zearalenone effectively modulates estrogen receptor-mediated responses, influencing hormonal balance in livestock species such as pigs, cattle, and sheep. In biomedical research, zearalenone serves as a tool compound to study estrogen receptor-mediated mechanisms and endocrine disruption, particularly in young animals within veterinary pharmacological contexts.