STEROID

Steroids
form
an
INTRODUCTI
important group of
ON
compounds based on
the fundamental
saturated
tetracyclic
hydrocarbon:
1,2cyclopentanoperhydro
phenanthrene (sterane
or gonane).
The term "steroids" was coined by
Callow RK et al. (Proc Royal Soc London
series A 1936, 157, 194) "for the group of
compounds comprising the sterols, bile
acids, heart poisons, saponins and sex

The sterols, bile acids, heart poisons,

saponins and sex hormones have
number of functions in human
physiology and are of immense
Cholestrol

200g
per
average
adult
biological importance.
Found in plants, animals and fungi
All steroids are made in cells from
sterols
Lanosterols Animals and fungi
Cyclosterols - Plants
Both lanosterols and cyclosterols are
derived from cyclization of the
triterpene squalene.

CLASSIFICATION
According to their chemical structure, the wide
array of steroid molecules may be divided into
several
groups :
1. Sterols
2. Brassinosteroids
3. Bufadienolides
4. Cardenolides
5. Cucurbitacins
6. Ecdysteroids
7. Sapogenins
8. Steroid alkaloids
9. Withasteroids
10.Bile acids
11.Hormonal steroids

STEROLS
Sterols form an important group
among the steroids
Sterols such as stigmasterol and
sitosterol are essential components of
cell membranes and they are also used
as the starting material in the
Phytosterols are minor but beneficial
production of steroidal drugs.
components of the human diet since
they may inhibit growth of tumours and
help in regulation of blood cholesterol.
Therapeutically they are important

BRASSINOST
EROIDS
Brassinolide - isolated from the pollen of
Brassica napus in 1979 is brassinolide
exhibits
the
highest
biological
activity
of
the
are potent plant growth and development
known
brassinosteroids.
regulators,
dozens of compounds of
similar structure were isolated from
plant sources (algae, ferns, gymnosperms
and
It was shown that they
angiosperms, but not bacteria) or
interact with jasmonates in
synthesized.
the formation of anti-

UFADIENOLIDES
They have been isolated from plants and
animals. More than 250 compounds have
been identified.
In plants, they are mostly glycosides with
one to three sugars in a chain linked to
the
3-hydroxyl
group.
Family
Liliaceae,
Bowiea and Scilla
They are important for their cardiotonic
activity.
Furthermore, they possess insecticidal
and antimicrobial properties, those

ARDENOLIDES
They are widely distributed in plants
mainly as glycosides and are either toxic
or
As insect
potentdeterrents.
cardiotonics, these steroids
were largely studied (digoxin and its
derivative).
Monarch butterfly is well known to be
highly toxic to birds because of
cardenolides which come from the
milkweed leaves eaten by its caterpillar.
Experimentally, the larvae of the
lepidopteran -Trichoplusiani were

UCURBITACINS
These steroids which are commonly
combined
in glycosides, are mainly associated
with
Mammals
perceived
toxic
Cucurbitaceae
species butthese
they have
molecules
also
been detected in other families.
as some of the bitterest substances
known.
Cucurbitacins have been shown to act
as
ecdysteroid receptor antagonists.

CDYSTEROIDS
Ecdysteroids are present both in animals and
plants.
In plants, they are named
The most common phytoecdysteroid in
"phytoecdysteroids" and they seem to
plants is ecdysone (20Ehydroxyecdysone).
protect plants against most insects.
ajugalactone jn Ajuga reptans, Cyasterone,
makisterone B in A. chamaepitys (Labiatae),
ajugasterone C in Vitex madiensis
(Verbenaceae),
inokosterone
in
Achyranthes
fauriei
(Amaranthaceae),
ponasterone
A phytoecdysteroids
in
Podocarpus and
nakaii
Insects
that ingest
(Podocarpaceae).
are not adapted to this defense are subject
to serious adverse effects, including reduced

SAPOGE
These steroids can mimic or regulate
steroid hormones. Thus, diosgenin
NINS
can be chemically converted into
corticosteroids, estrogens and
They are extremely distributed in
progesterone.
plants since they occur in over 90
plant families. They are used in
nutrition, as herbal medicine, and in
Glycyrrizin- liquorce roots
cosmetics.
antiinflammatory activity
Antifungal, antimicrobial, adaptogen.

STEROID
These alkaloids are only distributed in
ALKALOIDS
Solanaceae
(potato,
tomato,
eggplant ...). Fortunately, their toxic
properties disappear by structural
transformation
during
ripening.
Solasodine is the most common species
in Solanum.

WITHASTEROIDS
Over 200 species are known, some of
them as glycosides. They are
predominantly associated with
Solanaceae
Withanolidesbut
areare also found in other
families
Leguminosae,
known to(Taccacceae,
have
Labiatae).
important
pharmacological
properties (antitumor,
immunosuppressi
ve) but they are

BILE ACIDS
The end products of cholesterol
utilization
are
the
bile
acids.
The most abundant bile acids in
human bile are chenodeoxycholic
acid (45%) and cholic acid (31%).
These are referred to as the
secondary bile acids, identified as
primary bile acids.
deoxycholate (from cholate) and
lithocholate
(from
Bile acids have long been known to
chenodeoxycholate).
be essential in dietary lipid

HORMONAL
This large group can be
STEROIDS
divided
into
three
major
families, mainly on the basis of
their physiological function or
their tissue origin :

Sexual hormones
Corticosteroids
Neurosteroids

SEXUAL
This
important
group
may
be
again
Estrogens Ovarian hormones
HORMONES
divided into estrogens, gestrogens, and
Eg. Sprouting Oat seeds, garlic, tulip
androgens.
bulbs.
Gestrogens Corpus luteum hormones
Isolated from Corpus luteum, adrenal
cortex, Ovaries and placenta
Androgens Male hormones
Occur in mammalian organisms
Are produced mainly by the adrenal
cortex, testes and ovaries
These are chiefly metabolised by the
liver and excreted in urine as

CORTICOSTE
ROIDS

Corticoids - formed in the adrenal

cortex.
Corticosteroid hormones in
vertebrates are critical for
metabolism, growth, reproduction,
immunity, and ion homeostasis
and are an important part of the
coping mechanisms involved in

NEUROSTEROIDS
The term "neurosteroid", proposed by EE
Baulieu in 1981, applies to steroids which
are accumulated in the brain independently
of supply by peripheral endocrine glands
and which are synthesized from cholesterol
Several steroids have been described in the
in the nervous system.
brain since the first report in 1981 of
dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) and its
sulfated derivative in the rat brain. Among
Recent discoveries have revealed that brain
the
best
known
are
pregnenolone,
is a site of extensive steroid metabolism
progesterone, allopregnanolone and DHEA.
and also a target of steroid hormones.
These hormones play an important role in
the development, growth, maturation and

The N-methyl-D-aspartatereceptor(also known as

theNMDA receptoror NMDAR), is a

USES/APPLICAT
Withania somniferum (Solanaceae), known as
ashwaganda in Ayurvedic medicine, contains
IONS

steroidal lactones called withanolides which

exhibit antitumour and hepatoprotective
activities.
In
Commiphora mukulmyrrh (known as
guggal in India)the resin contains steroids
known as guggulsterones, which lower blood
cholesterol
triglycerides
viaa stimulation
of
Powerful drugs and
that many
people use as
short cut to boost
their athletic
performance or improve their appearance.
thyroid
function.

THANK
YOU.