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Review
. 2010 Aug;5(8):940-3.
doi: 10.4161/psb.5.8.12295. Epub 2010 Aug 1.

Into the world of steroids: a biochemical "keep in touch" in plants and animals

Anna Speranza  1
Affiliations
Review

Into the world of steroids: a biochemical "keep in touch" in plants and animals

Anna Speranza. Plant Signal Behav. 2010 Aug.

Abstract

Evolution of steroids such as sex hormones and ecdysteroids occurred independently in animal and plant kingdoms. Plants use phytoecdysteroids (PEs) to control defence interactions with some predators; furthermore, PEs can exert beneficial influence on many aspects of mammalian metabolism. Endocrine disrupting compounds such as the estrogen agonist bisphenol A (BPA) are widespread in the environment, posing a potential hormonal risk to animals and plants. Adverse BPA effects on reproductive development and function are coupled with other toxic effects. BPA bioremediation techniques could be developed by exploiting some tolerant plant species.

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