title: Steroid plant hormones: effects outside plant kingdom.
abstract: Brassinosteroids (BS) are the first group of steroid-hormonal compounds isolated from and acting in plants. Among numerous physiological effects of BS growth stimulation and adaptogenic activities are especially remarkable. In this review, we provide evidence that BS possess similar types of activity also beyond plant kingdom at concentrations comparable with those for plants. This finding allows looking at steroids from a new point of view: how common are the mechanisms of steroid bioregulation in different types of organisms from protozoa to higher animals.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, National Academy of Sciences of Belarus, Kuprevich St., 5/2, 220141 Minsk, Belarus. Electronic address: vz@iboch.bas-net.by.
authors.forename: Vladimir N
authors.initials: VN
authors.lastname: Zhabinskii
authors.affiliation: Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, National Academy of Sciences of Belarus, Kuprevich St., 5/2, 220141 Minsk, Belarus.
authors.forename: Natalia B
authors.initials: NB
authors.lastname: Khripach
authors.affiliation: Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, National Academy of Sciences of Belarus, Kuprevich St., 5/2, 220141 Minsk, Belarus.
authors.forename: Vladimir A
authors.initials: VA
authors.lastname: Khripach
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D060406:Brassinosteroids / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology*; D010937:Plant Growth Regulators / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology; D010944:Plants / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D060406:Brassinosteroids; D010937:Plant Growth Regulators
keywords: Anticancer activity; Anticholesterolemic activity; Antiviral activity; Brassinosteroids; Medicinal aspects; Phytohormones