Steroidal Prodrugs: Synthetic Approaches

For a number of decades, steroids a widespread class of natural organic compounds occurring in animals, plants and fungi have been one of the main topics of interest for natural product as well as medicinal chemists because they display a number of biological and pharmacological activities. The steroid core structure is composed of seventeen carbon atoms, bonded in four "fused" rings: three six-member cyclohexane rings and one five-member cyclopentane ring (the D ring). Steroids have two principal biological functions such as membrane fluidity and act as signaling molecules which activate steroid hormone receptors. Among the synthetic steroids of therapeutic values, many of them are being extensively used as anti-hormones, contraceptive drugs, anti-cancer agents cardiovascular agents, osteoporosis drugs anti-biotics, anesthetics, anti-inflammatories and anti-asthmatics.