Translated by: Joe Hing kwok Chu

(1) Glucocorticoid

It includes cortisol and corticosterone. It possesses the effect of harmonizing the metabolism of sugar and to lesser effect on fat or protein. The steroids being used in clinical application belong to this category, like: cortisone, hydrocortison, and their non-natural derivatives as prednisone, dexamethasone etc.  Because the metabolism of sugar was discovered first, so customarily it is called glucocorticoid.  In their structures, beside possessing the common active biological characteristics of the necessary delta 4- pregnehydroxy- 21- sterol-3,20 diketone, in the 11th position it contains oxyl group (like hydrocortisone) of hydroxyl, and ketone group of cortisone. If the 17th position is added alpha-hydroxyl root, its active effect of glucocorticoid is stronger; thus the biological activity of cortisol is stronger than corticosterone.

Click here for inquiry