ABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION Endocrine disrupting chemicals are a class of structurally diverse natural and synthetic compounds that possess the ability to disrupt the normal function of the endocrine system and thereby impart toxic effects upon hormone-responsive tissues and organs throughout the human body, particularly those of the reproductive tract. The distinct biological effects of different members of this class of compounds can be attributed to the physical and chemical diversity between them, which suggests that unique mechanisms of action are utilized by individual compounds to impart endocrine disrupting effects. Many previously described endocrine disrupting chemicals elicit their effects by modulating estrogen signaling. Diethylstilbestrol (DES), genistein, short-chain fatty acids, and the essential oils of lavender and tea tree are four different compounds or groups of compounds that possess endocrine disrupting activity and target estrogen signaling. The biological effects and studies elucidating the mechanisms of action for these four different compounds with respect to endocrine disruption and estrogen signaling will be further discussed in detail next.
