steroids Flashcards
what is the role of steroids?
Act as hormones (chemical messengers) but have other roles such as increasing cell membrane rigidity/integrity & acting as surfactants
what are steroids made up of?
triterpenoids, their biosynthetic precursor being squalene
what is squalene made up of
what are the types of steroids?
sterols
saponins
cardioactive glycosides
bile acids
hormononal steroids
what type of hormonal steroids are there?
sex hormones
Adrenocortical Hormones/Corticosteroids
what family of compounds do sterols belong to?
steroid and alcohol
how are sterols transported in the blood stream
via lipoproteins
where are sterols found?
in cell membranes of all animal tissue
what is the biosynthetic precursor to all steroid hormones
sterols
what can sterols cause?
May cause gallstone disease and atherosclerosis (hardening of the arteries)
are sterols synthesised in the body?
yes but also can also be ingested
what are the structural features of diosgenin?
Spiroketal at C-22
Sugar residues at 3b-OH
what can diosgenin cause?
Cause haemolysis- lysing of red blood cells
what is an example of a sterol
cholestrol
what is an example of a saponin?
diosgenin
