Research Article Open Access

Hormesis: Principles and Applications for Pharmacology and Toxicology

Edward J. Calabrese1
  • 1 University of Massachusetts Amherst, United States

Abstract

The present assessment places hormetic dose responses within an historical context, documenting its origin, rejection by the biomedical community during the early decades of the 20th due to its close association with homeopathy and its revitalization during the later decades of the past century as the biomedical and toxicological communities became very interested in low dose effects of drugs and environmental agents. Particular attention is directed to assessing the quantitative features of the hormetic dose response, its underlying mechanisms and its implications for drug development and environmental risk assessment.

American Journal of Pharmacology and Toxicology
Volume 3 No. 1, 2008, 59-71

DOI: https://doi.org/10.3844/ajptsp.2008.59.71

Submitted On: 2 March 2008 Published On: 31 March 2008

How to Cite: Calabrese, E. J. (2008). Hormesis: Principles and Applications for Pharmacology and Toxicology. American Journal of Pharmacology and Toxicology, 3(1), 59-71. https://doi.org/10.3844/ajptsp.2008.59.71

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Keywords

  • Hormesis, biphasic
  • U-shaped
  • J-shaped
  • adaptive response
  • drug discovery
  • drug development