Estrogenic activity; half agonist of estradiol receptors.

Complex esters of phenolcarbon acids‚ C₂₂H₃₀O₄ (Ferutinine) and C₂₂H₃₀O₅ (Tenuferidine) ‚ from plants of the Ferula genus‚ Umbelliferae.

Ferutinine has a comparable type and level of activity with Diethylstilbestrol.
The specific estrogen-receptors in the cytoplasmic fraction of the hypothalamic area possesses a high affinity with estradiol and Ferutinine. Their association constant is respectively 3.4 x 108.M-1 and 2.0 x 108.M-1; in the cytosol of the mediobasal hypothalamus‚ it is 3.8 x 108.M-1 and 1.4 x 108.M-1.
It is clearly indicated that Ferutinine may exert its estrogenic effect through the regulatory centres of hypothalamus.
Experiments have estabished that cytosolic estrogen-receptors from human decidua interacts with Ferutinine with a low affinity: 1.58% affinity. This low level is characteristic of a class of estrogen-like products.
It has also been established that Ferutinine increases the secretion rate of luteinizing hormone in male rats‚ parallel to the activation of the gonadotropin synthesis in the adenohypophysis.
Ferutinine does not seem to have carcinogenic nor teratogenic properties. Administering of Ferutinine during 6 months at 0.1‚ 1 and 10 mg/kg does not provoke marked modifications in the internal organs nor in the peripheric blood.
In the first days of pregnancy‚ administration of Ferutinine at 10 to 100 mg/kg to rats leads to embryotoxic effects.

1. Saidkhodjaev et al., "Ferutinine structure." Chem. Nat. Comp. (1973). 1:28-30
2. Ahmedhodjaieva et al., "Influence of Ferutinine (Tefestrol) on the secretion of luteinizing hormone by hypophysis." Journ. Pharmacol. Toxicol. Moscow (1990) (Russian). 4:37-38