Class of drugs
A nonsteroidal estrogen is an estrogen with a nonsteroidal chemical structure .[ 1] The most well-known example is the stilbestrol estrogen diethylstilbestrol (DES).[ 1] [ 2] Although nonsteroidal estrogens formerly had an important place in medicine, they have gradually fallen out of favor following the discovery of toxicities associated with high-dose DES starting in the early 1970s, and are now almost never used.[ 2] [ 3] [ 4] On the other hand, virtually all selective estrogen receptor modulators (SERMs) are nonsteroidal, with triphenylethylenes like tamoxifen and clomifene having been derived from DES,[ 5] and these drugs remain widely used in medicine for the treatment of breast cancer among other indications.[ 6] In addition to pharmaceutical drugs , many xenoestrogens , including phytoestrogens , mycoestrogens , and synthetic endocrine disruptors like bisphenol A , are nonsteroidal substances with estrogenic activity.[ 7]
Pharmacology
Nonsteroidal estrogens act as agonists of the estrogen receptors , ERα and ERβ .
Affinities of estrogen receptor ligands for the ERα and ERβ
Ligand
Other names
Relative binding affinities (RBA, %)a
Absolute binding affinities (Ki , nM)a
Action
ERα
ERβ
ERα
ERβ
Estradiol
E2; 17β-Estradiol
100
100
0.115 (0.04–0.24)
0.15 (0.10–2.08)
Estrogen
Estrone
E1; 17-Ketoestradiol
16.39 (0.7–60)
6.5 (1.36–52)
0.445 (0.3–1.01)
1.75 (0.35–9.24)
Estrogen
Estriol
E3; 16α-OH-17β-E2
12.65 (4.03–56)
26 (14.0–44.6)
0.45 (0.35–1.4)
0.7 (0.63–0.7)
Estrogen
Estetrol
E4; 15α,16α-Di-OH-17β-E2
4.0
3.0
4.9
19
Estrogen
Alfatradiol
17α-Estradiol
20.5 (7–80.1)
8.195 (2–42)
0.2–0.52
0.43–1.2
Metabolite
16-Epiestriol
16β-Hydroxy-17β-estradiol
7.795 (4.94–63)
50
?
?
Metabolite
17-Epiestriol
16α-Hydroxy-17α-estradiol
55.45 (29–103)
79–80
?
?
Metabolite
16,17-Epiestriol
16β-Hydroxy-17α-estradiol
1.0
13
?
?
Metabolite
2-Hydroxyestradiol
2-OH-E2
22 (7–81)
11–35
2.5
1.3
Metabolite
2-Methoxyestradiol
2-MeO-E2
0.0027–2.0
1.0
?
?
Metabolite
4-Hydroxyestradiol
4-OH-E2
13 (8–70)
7–56
1.0
1.9
Metabolite
4-Methoxyestradiol
4-MeO-E2
2.0
1.0
?
?
Metabolite
2-Hydroxyestrone
2-OH-E1
2.0–4.0
0.2–0.4
?
?
Metabolite
2-Methoxyestrone
2-MeO-E1
<0.001–<1
<1
?
?
Metabolite
4-Hydroxyestrone
4-OH-E1
1.0–2.0
1.0
?
?
Metabolite
4-Methoxyestrone
4-MeO-E1
<1
<1
?
?
Metabolite
16α-Hydroxyestrone
16α-OH-E1; 17-Ketoestriol
2.0–6.5
35
?
?
Metabolite
2-Hydroxyestriol
2-OH-E3
2.0
1.0
?
?
Metabolite
4-Methoxyestriol
4-MeO-E3
1.0
1.0
?
?
Metabolite
Estradiol sulfate
E2S; Estradiol 3-sulfate
<1
<1
?
?
Metabolite
Estradiol disulfate
Estradiol 3,17β-disulfate
0.0004
?
?
?
Metabolite
Estradiol 3-glucuronide
E2-3G
0.0079
?
?
?
Metabolite
Estradiol 17β-glucuronide
E2-17G
0.0015
?
?
?
Metabolite
Estradiol 3-gluc. 17β-sulfate
E2-3G-17S
0.0001
?
?
?
Metabolite
Estrone sulfate
E1S; Estrone 3-sulfate
<1
<1
>10
>10
Metabolite
Estradiol benzoate
EB; Estradiol 3-benzoate
10
?
?
?
Estrogen
Estradiol 17β-benzoate
E2-17B
11.3
32.6
?
?
Estrogen
Estrone methyl ether
Estrone 3-methyl ether
0.145
?
?
?
Estrogen
ent -Estradiol
1-Estradiol
1.31–12.34
9.44–80.07
?
?
Estrogen
Equilin
7-Dehydroestrone
13 (4.0–28.9)
13.0–49
0.79
0.36
Estrogen
Equilenin
6,8-Didehydroestrone
2.0–15
7.0–20
0.64
0.62
Estrogen
17β-Dihydroequilin
7-Dehydro-17β-estradiol
7.9–113
7.9–108
0.09
0.17
Estrogen
17α-Dihydroequilin
7-Dehydro-17α-estradiol
18.6 (18–41)
14–32
0.24
0.57
Estrogen
17β-Dihydroequilenin
6,8-Didehydro-17β-estradiol
35–68
90–100
0.15
0.20
Estrogen
17α-Dihydroequilenin
6,8-Didehydro-17α-estradiol
20
49
0.50
0.37
Estrogen
Δ8 -Estradiol
8,9-Dehydro-17β-estradiol
68
72
0.15
0.25
Estrogen
Δ8 -Estrone
8,9-Dehydroestrone
19
32
0.52
0.57
Estrogen
Ethinylestradiol
EE; 17α-Ethynyl-17β-E2
120.9 (68.8–480)
44.4 (2.0–144)
0.02–0.05
0.29–0.81
Estrogen
Mestranol
EE 3-methyl ether
?
2.5
?
?
Estrogen
Moxestrol
RU-2858; 11β-Methoxy-EE
35–43
5–20
0.5
2.6
Estrogen
Methylestradiol
17α-Methyl-17β-estradiol
70
44
?
?
Estrogen
Diethylstilbestrol
DES; Stilbestrol
129.5 (89.1–468)
219.63 (61.2–295)
0.04
0.05
Estrogen
Hexestrol
Dihydrodiethylstilbestrol
153.6 (31–302)
60–234
0.06
0.06
Estrogen
Dienestrol
Dehydrostilbestrol
37 (20.4–223)
56–404
0.05
0.03
Estrogen
Benzestrol (B2)
–
114
?
?
?
Estrogen
Chlorotrianisene
TACE
1.74
?
15.30
?
Estrogen
Triphenylethylene
TPE
0.074
?
?
?
Estrogen
Triphenylbromoethylene
TPBE
2.69
?
?
?
Estrogen
Tamoxifen
ICI-46,474
3 (0.1–47)
3.33 (0.28–6)
3.4–9.69
2.5
SERM
Afimoxifene
4-Hydroxytamoxifen; 4-OHT
100.1 (1.7–257)
10 (0.98–339)
2.3 (0.1–3.61)
0.04–4.8
SERM
Toremifene
4-Chlorotamoxifen; 4-CT
?
?
7.14–20.3
15.4
SERM
Clomifene
MRL-41
25 (19.2–37.2)
12
0.9
1.2
SERM
Cyclofenil
F-6066; Sexovid
151–152
243
?
?
SERM
Nafoxidine
U-11,000A
30.9–44
16
0.3
0.8
SERM
Raloxifene
–
41.2 (7.8–69)
5.34 (0.54–16)
0.188–0.52
20.2
SERM
Arzoxifene
LY-353,381
?
?
0.179
?
SERM
Lasofoxifene
CP-336,156
10.2–166
19.0
0.229
?
SERM
Ormeloxifene
Centchroman
?
?
0.313
?
SERM
Levormeloxifene
6720-CDRI; NNC-460,020
1.55
1.88
?
?
SERM
Ospemifene
Deaminohydroxytoremifene
0.82–2.63
0.59–1.22
?
?
SERM
Bazedoxifene
–
?
?
0.053
?
SERM
Etacstil
GW-5638
4.30
11.5
?
?
SERM
ICI-164,384
–
63.5 (3.70–97.7)
166
0.2
0.08
Antiestrogen
Fulvestrant
ICI-182,780
43.5 (9.4–325)
21.65 (2.05–40.5)
0.42
1.3
Antiestrogen
Propylpyrazoletriol
PPT
49 (10.0–89.1)
0.12
0.40
92.8
ERα agonist
16α-LE2
16α-Lactone-17β-estradiol
14.6–57
0.089
0.27
131
ERα agonist
16α-Iodo-E2
16α-Iodo-17β-estradiol
30.2
2.30
?
?
ERα agonist
Methylpiperidinopyrazole
MPP
11
0.05
?
?
ERα antagonist
Diarylpropionitrile
DPN
0.12–0.25
6.6–18
32.4
1.7
ERβ agonist
8β-VE2
8β-Vinyl-17β-estradiol
0.35
22.0–83
12.9
0.50
ERβ agonist
Prinaberel
ERB-041; WAY-202,041
0.27
67–72
?
?
ERβ agonist
ERB-196
WAY-202,196
?
180
?
?
ERβ agonist
Erteberel
SERBA-1; LY-500,307
?
?
2.68
0.19
ERβ agonist
SERBA-2
–
?
?
14.5
1.54
ERβ agonist
Coumestrol
–
9.225 (0.0117–94)
64.125 (0.41–185)
0.14–80.0
0.07–27.0
Xenoestrogen
Genistein
–
0.445 (0.0012–16)
33.42 (0.86–87)
2.6–126
0.3–12.8
Xenoestrogen
Equol
–
0.2–0.287
0.85 (0.10–2.85)
?
?
Xenoestrogen
Daidzein
–
0.07 (0.0018–9.3)
0.7865 (0.04–17.1)
2.0
85.3
Xenoestrogen
Biochanin A
–
0.04 (0.022–0.15)
0.6225 (0.010–1.2)
174
8.9
Xenoestrogen
Kaempferol
–
0.07 (0.029–0.10)
2.2 (0.002–3.00)
?
?
Xenoestrogen
Naringenin
–
0.0054 (<0.001–0.01)
0.15 (0.11–0.33)
?
?
Xenoestrogen
8-Prenylnaringenin
8-PN
4.4
?
?
?
Xenoestrogen
Quercetin
–
<0.001–0.01
0.002–0.040
?
?
Xenoestrogen
Ipriflavone
–
<0.01
<0.01
?
?
Xenoestrogen
Miroestrol
–
0.39
?
?
?
Xenoestrogen
Deoxymiroestrol
–
2.0
?
?
?
Xenoestrogen
β-Sitosterol
–
<0.001–0.0875
<0.001–0.016
?
?
Xenoestrogen
Resveratrol
–
<0.001–0.0032
?
?
?
Xenoestrogen
α-Zearalenol
–
48 (13–52.5)
?
?
?
Xenoestrogen
β-Zearalenol
–
0.6 (0.032–13)
?
?
?
Xenoestrogen
Zeranol
α-Zearalanol
48–111
?
?
?
Xenoestrogen
Taleranol
β-Zearalanol
16 (13–17.8)
14
0.8
0.9
Xenoestrogen
Zearalenone
ZEN
7.68 (2.04–28)
9.45 (2.43–31.5)
?
?
Xenoestrogen
Zearalanone
ZAN
0.51
?
?
?
Xenoestrogen
Bisphenol A
BPA
0.0315 (0.008–1.0)
0.135 (0.002–4.23)
195
35
Xenoestrogen
Endosulfan
EDS
<0.001–<0.01
<0.01
?
?
Xenoestrogen
Kepone
Chlordecone
0.0069–0.2
?
?
?
Xenoestrogen
o,p' -DDT
–
0.0073–0.4
?
?
?
Xenoestrogen
p,p' -DDT
–
0.03
?
?
?
Xenoestrogen
Methoxychlor
p,p' -Dimethoxy-DDT
0.01 (<0.001–0.02)
0.01–0.13
?
?
Xenoestrogen
HPTE
Hydroxychlor; p,p' -OH-DDT
1.2–1.7
?
?
?
Xenoestrogen
Testosterone
T; 4-Androstenolone
<0.0001–<0.01
<0.002–0.040
>5000
>5000
Androgen
Dihydrotestosterone
DHT; 5α-Androstanolone
0.01 (<0.001–0.05)
0.0059–0.17
221–>5000
73–1688
Androgen
Nandrolone
19-Nortestosterone; 19-NT
0.01
0.23
765
53
Androgen
Dehydroepiandrosterone
DHEA; Prasterone
0.038 (<0.001–0.04)
0.019–0.07
245–1053
163–515
Androgen
5-Androstenediol
A5; Androstenediol
6
17
3.6
0.9
Androgen
4-Androstenediol
–
0.5
0.6
23
19
Androgen
4-Androstenedione
A4; Androstenedione
<0.01
<0.01
>10000
>10000
Androgen
3α-Androstanediol
3α-Adiol
0.07
0.3
260
48
Androgen
3β-Androstanediol
3β-Adiol
3
7
6
2
Androgen
Androstanedione
5α-Androstanedione
<0.01
<0.01
>10000
>10000
Androgen
Etiocholanedione
5β-Androstanedione
<0.01
<0.01
>10000
>10000
Androgen
Methyltestosterone
17α-Methyltestosterone
<0.0001
?
?
?
Androgen
Ethinyl-3α-androstanediol
17α-Ethynyl-3α-adiol
4.0
<0.07
?
?
Estrogen
Ethinyl-3β-androstanediol
17α-Ethynyl-3β-adiol
50
5.6
?
?
Estrogen
Progesterone
P4; 4-Pregnenedione
<0.001–0.6
<0.001–0.010
?
?
Progestogen
Norethisterone
NET; 17α-Ethynyl-19-NT
0.085 (0.0015–<0.1)
0.1 (0.01–0.3)
152
1084
Progestogen
Norethynodrel
5(10)-Norethisterone
0.5 (0.3–0.7)
<0.1–0.22
14
53
Progestogen
Tibolone
7α-Methylnorethynodrel
0.5 (0.45–2.0)
0.2–0.076
?
?
Progestogen
Δ4 -Tibolone
7α-Methylnorethisterone
0.069–<0.1
0.027–<0.1
?
?
Progestogen
3α-Hydroxytibolone
–
2.5 (1.06–5.0)
0.6–0.8
?
?
Progestogen
3β-Hydroxytibolone
–
1.6 (0.75–1.9)
0.070–0.1
?
?
Progestogen
Footnotes: a = (1) Binding affinity values are of the format "median (range)" (# (#–#)), "range" (#–#), or "value" (#) depending on the values available. The full sets of values within the ranges can be found in the Wiki code. (2) Binding affinities were determined via displacement studies in a variety of in-vitro systems with labeled estradiol and human ERα and ERβ proteins (except the ERβ values from Kuiper et al. (1997), which are rat ERβ). Sources: See template page.
List of nonsteroidal estrogens
Synthetic
Pharmaceutical
Stilbestrols : benzestrol , bifluranol , dienestrol , diethylstilbestrol , dimestrol , fosfestrol , furostilbestrol , hexestrol , mestilbol , methestrol , pentafluranol , phenestrol , terfluranol , stilbestrol esters
Triphenylethylenes : chlorotrianisene , desmethylchlorotrianisene , estrobin (DBE ) , M2613 , triphenylbromoethylene , triphenylchloroethylene , triphenyliodoethylene , triphenylmethylethylene
Secosteroids (open-ring steroids): allenestrol , allenolic acid , bisdehydrodoisynolic acid , carbestrol , doisynoestrol , doisynolic acid , fenestrel , methallenestril
Selective ERα or ERβ agonists : diarylpropionitrile , ERB-196 , erteberel , FERb 033 , GTx-758 , prinaberel , propylpyrazoletriol , WAY-166818 , WAY-214156
Others: 2,8-dihydroxyhexahydrochrysene (2,8-DHHHC), paroxypropione , quadrosilan , tetrahydrochrysene
SERMs like tamoxifen and raloxifene can also be considered to be nonsteroidal estrogens in some tissues .[ 8]
Environmental
Natural
Metalloestrogens : cadmium , others
Mycoestrogens : taleranol (β-zearalanol), α-zearalenol , β-zearalenol , zearalanone , zearalenone , zeranol (α-zearalanol)
Phytoestrogens : coumestrol , daidzein , deoxymiroestrol , equol , genistein , miroestrol , many others
See also
References
Further reading
Hermkens PH, Kamp S, Lusher S, Veeneman GH (2006). "Non-steroidal steroid receptor modulators". IDrugs . 9 (7): 488–94. doi :10.2174/0929867053764671 . PMID 16821162 .
Mohler ML, Narayanan R, Coss CC, Hu K, He Y, Wu Z, Hong SS, Hwang DJ, Miller DD, Dalton JT (2010). "Estrogen receptor beta selective nonsteroidal estrogens: seeking clinical indications". Expert Opin Ther Pat . 20 (4): 507–34. doi :10.1517/13543771003657164 . PMID 20302450 . S2CID 314347 .
Estrogens
ER Tooltip Estrogen receptor agonists
Steroidal: Alfatradiol
Certain androgens /anabolic steroids (e.g., testosterone , testosterone esters , methyltestosterone , metandienone , nandrolone esters ) (via estrogenic metabolites)
Certain progestins (e.g., norethisterone , noretynodrel , etynodiol diacetate , tibolone )
Clomestrone
Cloxestradiol acetate
Conjugated estriol
Conjugated estrogens
Epiestriol
Epimestrol
Esterified estrogens
Estetrol †
Estradiol
Estradiol esters (e.g., estradiol acetate , estradiol benzoate , estradiol cypionate , estradiol enanthate , estradiol undecylate , estradiol valerate , polyestradiol phosphate , estradiol ester mixtures (Climacteron ))
Estramustine phosphate
Estriol
Estriol esters (e.g., estriol succinate , polyestriol phosphate )
Estrogenic substances
Estrone
Estrone esters
Ethinylestradiol #
Hydroxyestrone diacetate
Mestranol
Methylestradiol
Moxestrol
Nilestriol
Prasterone (dehydroepiandrosterone; DHEA)
Promestriene
Quinestradol
Quinestrol
Progonadotropins
Antiestrogens
ER Tooltip Estrogen receptor antagonists (incl. SERMs Tooltip selective estrogen receptor modulators /SERDs Tooltip selective estrogen receptor downregulators )Aromatase inhibitors Antigonadotropins
Androgens /anabolic steroids (e.g., testosterone , testosterone esters , nandrolone esters , oxandrolone , fluoxymesterone )
D2 receptor antagonists (prolactin releasers) (e.g., domperidone , metoclopramide , risperidone , haloperidol , chlorpromazine , sulpiride )
GnRH agonists (e.g., leuprorelin , goserelin )
GnRH antagonists (e.g., cetrorelix , elagolix )
Progestogens (e.g., chlormadinone acetate , cyproterone acetate , gestonorone caproate , hydroxyprogesterone caproate , medroxyprogesterone acetate , megestrol acetate )
Others
ER Tooltip Estrogen receptor
Agonists
Steroidal: 2-Hydroxyestradiol
2-Hydroxyestrone
3-Methyl-19-methyleneandrosta-3,5-dien-17β-ol
3α-Androstanediol
3α,5α-Dihydrolevonorgestrel
3β,5α-Dihydrolevonorgestrel
3α-Hydroxytibolone
3β-Hydroxytibolone
3β-Androstanediol
4-Androstenediol
4-Androstenedione
4-Fluoroestradiol
4-Hydroxyestradiol
4-Hydroxyestrone
4-Methoxyestradiol
4-Methoxyestrone
5-Androstenediol
7-Oxo-DHEA
7α-Hydroxy-DHEA
7α-Methylestradiol
7β-Hydroxyepiandrosterone
8,9-Dehydroestradiol
8,9-Dehydroestrone
8β-VE2
10β,17β-Dihydroxyestra-1,4-dien-3-one (DHED)
11β-Chloromethylestradiol
11β-Methoxyestradiol
15α-Hydroxyestradiol
16-Ketoestradiol
16-Ketoestrone
16α-Fluoroestradiol
16α-Hydroxy-DHEA
16α-Hydroxyestrone
16α-Iodoestradiol
16α-LE2
16β-Hydroxyestrone
16β,17α-Epiestriol (16β-hydroxy-17α-estradiol)
17α-Estradiol (alfatradiol )
17α-Dihydroequilenin
17α-Dihydroequilin
17α-Epiestriol (16α-hydroxy-17α-estradiol)
17α-Ethynyl-3α-androstanediol
17α-Ethynyl-3β-androstanediol
17β-Dihydroequilenin
17β-Dihydroequilin
17β-Methyl-17α-dihydroequilenin
Abiraterone
Abiraterone acetate
Alestramustine
Almestrone
Anabolic steroids (e.g., testosterone and esters , methyltestosterone , metandienone (methandrostenolone) , nandrolone and esters , many others; via estrogenic metabolites)
Atrimustine
Bolandiol
Bolandiol dipropionate
Butolame
Clomestrone
Cloxestradiol
Conjugated estriol
Conjugated estrogens
Cyclodiol
Cyclotriol
DHEA
DHEA-S
ent -Estradiol
Epiestriol (16β-epiestriol, 16β-hydroxy-17β-estradiol)
Epimestrol
Equilenin
Equilin
ERA-63 (ORG-37663)
Esterified estrogens
Estetrol
Estradiol
Estramustine
Estramustine phosphate
Estrapronicate
Estrazinol
Estriol
Estrofurate
Estrogenic substances
Estromustine
Estrone
Etamestrol (eptamestrol)
Ethinylandrostenediol
Ethinylestradiol
Ethinylestriol
Ethylestradiol
Etynodiol
Etynodiol diacetate
Hexolame
Hippulin
Hydroxyestrone diacetate
Lynestrenol
Lynestrenol phenylpropionate
Mestranol
Methylestradiol
Moxestrol
Mytatrienediol
Nilestriol
Norethisterone
Noretynodrel
Orestrate
Pentolame
Prodiame
Prolame
Promestriene
RU-16117
Quinestradol
Quinestrol
Tibolone
Xenoestrogens: Anise -related (e.g., anethole , anol , dianethole , dianol , photoanethole )
Chalconoids (e.g., isoliquiritigenin , phloretin , phlorizin (phloridzin) , wedelolactone )
Coumestans (e.g., coumestrol , psoralidin )
Flavonoids (incl. 7,8-DHF , 8-prenylnaringenin , apigenin , baicalein , baicalin , biochanin A , calycosin , catechin , daidzein , daidzin , ECG , EGCG , epicatechin , equol , formononetin , glabrene , glabridin , genistein , genistin , glycitein , kaempferol , liquiritigenin , mirificin , myricetin , naringenin , penduletin , pinocembrin , prunetin , puerarin , quercetin , tectoridin , tectorigenin )
Lavender oil
Lignans (e.g., enterodiol , enterolactone , nyasol (cis -hinokiresinol) )
Metalloestrogens (e.g., cadmium )
Pesticides (e.g., alternariol , dieldrin , endosulfan , fenarimol , HPTE , methiocarb , methoxychlor , triclocarban , triclosan )
Phytosteroids (e.g., digitoxin (digitalis ), diosgenin , guggulsterone )
Phytosterols (e.g., β-sitosterol , campesterol , stigmasterol )
Resorcylic acid lactones (e.g., zearalanone , α-zearalenol , β-zearalenol , zearalenone , zeranol (α-zearalanol) , taleranol (teranol, β-zearalanol) )
Steroid -like (e.g., deoxymiroestrol , miroestrol )
Stilbenoids (e.g., resveratrol , rhaponticin )
Synthetic xenoestrogens (e.g., alkylphenols , bisphenols (e.g., BPA , BPF , BPS ), DDT , parabens , PBBs , PHBA , phthalates , PCBs )
Others (e.g., agnuside , rotundifuran )
Mixed (SERMs Tooltip Selective estrogen receptor modulators ) Antagonists
Coregulator-binding modulators: ERX-11
GPER Tooltip G protein-coupled estrogen receptor
Agonists Antagonists Unknown