Steroid toxic, structures

The QSAR (quantitative structure-activity relationship) approach has been considered for the identification of toxicants that bind to steroid and aryl... 

The structural features of the solanum alkaloids are based on two primary skeletal configurations solanidane, with or without glycoside functionalities, as featured by the toxic and teratogenic steroidal alkaloids a-chaconine and a-solanine with the indolizidine type E-F ring (Figure 2.7a) and the spirosolane... 

Steroids that aid in muscle development are called anabolic steroids. They are synthetic derivatives of testosterone, thus have the same muscle-building effect as testosterone. There are more than 100 different anabolic steroids which, vary in structure, duration of action, relative effects and toxicities. Androstenedione, stanozolol and dianabol are anabolic steroids. They are used to treat people suffering from traumas accompanied by muscle deterioration. The use of anabolic steroid can lead to a number of dangerous side-effects, including lowered levels of high density lipoprotein cholesterol, which benefits the heart, and elevated levels of harmful low density lipoprotein, stimulation of prostate tumours, clotting disorders and liver problems. 

It is interesting to note that a number of researchers have attempted, more or less successfully, to construct reliable mathematical models which combine structural elements and experimental data to predict the toxicities of new substances not yet experimentally tested for humans and other species.110152 Furthermore pharmacology, toxicity, metabolism and enzyme-inhibiting effects of fluorine-containing aromatic systems (e.g., anilines, ben-zothiadiazines, butyrophenones, corticoids, phenothiazines, steroids, uracils) have been discussed in depth in the literature.153-156... 

Many Anabolic/Androgenic Steroids (AAS) are available in an oral form. Unfortunately some are also quite toxic to the liver. Orally administered AAS are very susceptible to first pass liver deactivation unless chemical molecular structures are altered to make them harder to deactivate. When an oral AAS is swallowed it enters the stomach where it is partially broken down and passed to the small intestines. The small intestines contain a group of enzymes called CYP-450 s. These enzymes begin to break down the AAS further in an attempt to deactivate it. The AAS is then absorbed through intestinal mucosa cells and transferred to the liver portal vein for further deactivation into inactive chemicals such as etiocholanone. These chemicals are then conjugated with glucuronic acid and excreted in urine. Up to 100% of the original compound can be deactivated in this process which is known as first pass deactivation. 

Steroid structure and biosynthesis have been used from a pharmacologic standpoint. Pharmacologists have tried to develop more effective and less toxic synthetic steroids by manipulating the chemical side groups of these compounds. An example is the synthetic glucocorticoid dexamethasone, which is 25 times... 

Saponins are widely distributed in plants and are a particular form of glycosides. They are so-called because of their soaplike effect, which is due to their surfactant properties. They also have hemolytic properties and, when injected into the bloodstream, are highly toxic. When taken by mouth, saponins are comparatively harmless. According to the structure of the aglycone or sapo-genin two kinds of saponin are recognized, the steroidal and triterpenoid type. 

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