nesteroidální

Nesteroidální is a term used to describe substances or compounds that do not possess the characteristics or structure of steroids. Steroids are a class of organic compounds that include the sterols, bile acids, and certain hormones, all of which share a common four-ring core structure. Therefore, anything nesteroidální lacks this fundamental steroid nucleus.

In pharmacology, the most common application of the term is in relation to nesteroidální protizánětlivé léky (NSAIDs). This group of drugs, which includes common over-the-counter medications like ibuprofen and aspirin, as well as prescription drugs like naproxen and celecoxib, function to reduce inflammation, pain, and fever. They achieve this by inhibiting the activity of cyclooxygenase (COX) enzymes, which are involved in the production of prostaglandins, signaling molecules that contribute to these symptoms. Unlike corticosteroids, which are steroid hormones, NSAIDs exert their effects through different biochemical pathways and have a distinct chemical structure.

Beyond pharmaceuticals, the term nesteroidální can be applied in other scientific contexts. For instance, in biochemistry, it might refer to molecules that mimic or interact with steroid receptors but are not themselves steroids. In organic chemistry, it simply denotes any compound that does not fall within the defined structural class of steroids. The key distinction always lies in the absence of the characteristic fused ring system that defines a steroid.