steroidide

Steroidide, or steroids, denotes a broad class of organic compounds sharing the four-ring cyclopentanoperhydrophenanthrene core. The term includes natural steroids produced by living organisms as well as synthetic derivatives used in medicine and research. Common natural steroids are cholesterol; steroid hormones such as testosterone, estradiol, and progesterone; and corticosteroids such as cortisol and aldosterone.

Steroids are often grouped into corticosteroids and anabolic‑androgenic steroids, among other classes like bile acids and neurosteroids. They originate mainly from cholesterol through enzymatic reactions in tissues such as the adrenal glands, gonads, liver, and brain. Functions vary: cholesterol contributes to membranes; steroid hormones regulate development, reproduction, metabolism, and immune responses; corticosteroids modulate inflammation and stress responses; neurosteroids influence neural signaling.

Medically, corticosteroids (for example hydrocortisone, prednisone, dexamethasone) treat inflammatory and autoimmune conditions and hormone deficiencies. Anabolic steroids are synthetic forms of testosterone that can promote muscle growth and secondary sexual characteristics; they are available only with medical prescription in many jurisdictions, but are sometimes misused for performance enhancement and are tightly regulated.

Possible side effects depend on the compound and duration of use and may include hormonal imbalance, metabolic changes, mood effects, liver injury, cardiovascular risk, and suppression of natural hormone production.

Historically, steroids were identified in the 19th and 20th centuries, with a large wave of synthetic steroids developed in the mid-20th century for therapeutic use and research. See also steroid hormone, corticosteroid, anabolic steroid.