Steroids

 

These are derivatives of cyclopentanoperhydrophenanthrene structure. All steroids have the 17 carbon ring structure. The basic sterol compound is cholesterol. From these compound other steroids are either synthesized or derived from its intermediate compound in the body.

Steroids differ in their 17 carbon ring structure in the following ways

1. Ring structure may vary

2. Ring may contain substituents such as  α or β-oriented alcoholic groups, aldehyde or ketone groups

3. Aliphatic side chains may be present or not or it may contain carboxyl or other functional groups

4. Ring structure may contains breakage