steroidal

Steroidal is an adjective used to describe steroids or compounds that resemble their chemical structure. In chemistry and biochemistry, steroids are characterized by a rigid tetracyclic core formed by four fused rings, typically described as three six-membered rings and one five-membered ring. A substance described as steroidal either is a steroid or contains this steroid-like core with additional functional groups.

Biology and medicine: Steroidal compounds include many important hormones such as estrogens, androgens, progestins, glucocorticoids, and mineralocorticoids. Cholesterol and bile acids are also steroidal. Because of their shared core, many steroidal drugs are used for anti-inflammatory, immunosuppressive, contraceptive, and hormonal therapies.

Plant and natural products: Steroidal alkaloids and steroidal saponins are examples of naturally occurring compounds with a steroid-like skeleton found in plants and some animals. These substances can influence membranes, signaling pathways, or metabolism and are often studied for their pharmacological effects.

Terminology and distinctions: The term "steroidal" is largely descriptive, signaling structural similarity to steroids rather than identical function. In pharmacology, "non-steroidal" describes compounds that exert steroid-like effects or targets without containing the classic steroid nucleus.

Overview: Steroidal designations cover a broad range of molecules, from endogenous hormones to synthetic drugs and plant-derived metabolites. The core steroid skeleton and its stereochemistry underpin much of their biological activity and therapeutic use.