Activation of estrogen receptor alpha and ERbeta by 4-methylbenzylidene-camphor in human and rat cells: comparison with phyto- and xenoestrogens.

4-Methylbenzylidene-camphor (4-MBC) is an organic sunscreen that protects against UV radiation and may therefore help in the prevention of skin cancer. Recent results on the estrogenicity of 4-MBC have raised concerns about a potential of 4-MBC to act as an endocrine disruptor. Here, we investigated the direct interaction of 4-MBC with estrogen receptor (ER) alpha and ERbeta in a series of studies including receptor binding, ER transactivation and functional tests in human and rat cells.