Ferutinin is a plant-derived ester of a sesquiterpenic alcohol that acts as an agonist for estrogen receptor (ER) α (IC50 = 33.1 nM) and an agonist/antagonist for ERβ (IC50 = 180.5 nM). It also demonstrates ionophoretic properties, increasing calcium permeability of lipid bilayer membranes, mitochondria, thymocytes, sarcoplasmic reticulum, and liposomes at a concentration range of 1-50 μM. Ferutinin is cytotoxic to MCF-7 breast and TCC bladder cancer cells as well as human foreskin HFF3 fibroblasts (IC50s = 29, 24, and 36 μg/ml in vitro after 72 hours of exposure).
