Zearalenone

Synonyms

(-)-Zearalenone; (10S)-Zearalenone; (S)-(-)-Zearalenone; (S)-Zearalenone; 6-(10-Hydroxy-6-oxo-trans-1-undecenyl)-beta-resorcylic acid lactone; Benzoxacyclotetradec-11-en-1-one, 14,16-dihydroxy-3-methyl-7-oxo-, trans-; Compound F-2; F-2 toxin; FES; Mycotoxin F2; Resorcylic acid, 6-(10-hydroxy-6-oxo-1-undecenyl)-, mu-lactone, trans-; Toxin F2; Zenone; trans-Zearalenone; (S-(E))-3,4,5,6,9,10-Hexahydro-14,16-dihydroxy-3-methyl-1H-2-benzoxacyclotetradecin-1,7(8H)-dione; 1H-2-Benzoxacyclotetradecin-1,7(8H)-dione, 3,4,5,6,9,10-hexahydro-14,16-dihydroxy-3-methyl-, (3S,11E)-; [ChemIDplus]

Category

Mycotoxins

Description

Solid; [Merck Index] White solid; [CAMEO] White powder; [MSDSonline]

Sources/Uses

Estrogenic mycotoxin from Fumaris fungi (found in grains); [Merck Index] Used as intermediate for zeranol and its 7-hydroxy epimer and as a veterinary anabolic agent; [HSDB] The mycotoxins zearalenone, deoxynivalenol, and fusarenon X are produced by the fungi Fusarium graminearum, F. culmorum, and F. crookwellense; [IARC] A synthesized form, called zeranol (Ralgro), was used as an anabolic agent in sheep and cattle; [Reference #1]

Comments

"One of a group of compounds known under the general designation of resorcylic acid lactones. Cis, trans, dextro and levo forms have been isolated from the fungus Gibberella zeae (formerly Fusarium graminearum). They have estrogenic activity, cause toxicity in livestock as feed contaminant, and have been used as anabolic or estrogen substitutes." [ChemIDplus] A tissue irritant; [CAMEO] Not a toxin, but a mycoestrogen; Concentrations as low as 1 ppm contaminating animal feed may lead to hyperestrogenic syndromes in pigs, cattle, and sheep; [Reference #1] A corrosive substance that can cause injury to the skin, eyes, and respiratory tract; Inhalation may cause chemical pneumonitis; A reproductive hazard; [Aldrich MSDS]

Zeranol was banned by the EU in 1989; [Reference #1]

Reference Link #1

Biomedical References

Yes

Skin burns

Not classifiable

Processes

Industrial Processes with risk of exposure:

• Farming (Feed Additives)