1. Anti-inflammatory and anti-allergic: Various steroid hormones have excellent anti-inflammatory and anti-allergic properties, such as natural cortisone (17-hydroxy-11-dehydrocorticosterone) and hydrocortisone (17-hydroxycorticosterone). ketones) are widely used anti-inflammatory and anti-allergic drugs.
Based on the structure of cortisone, through structural modification and screening, a series of anti-inflammatory and anti-allergic drugs with better effects and lower side effects were synthesized. For example, synthetic prednisone (1-dehydrocortisone) has a double bond between the first and second carbon atoms, which is 3 to 5 times stronger than hydrocortisone, and is mainly used for the treatment of asthma. The other is fluocinolone acetate, its anti-inflammatory activity is dozens of times that of hydrocortisone, and it is a good medicine for the treatment of various inflammations and psoriasis.
2. Treatment of male or female diseases and contraception: Sex hormones are often used in the treatment of male or female diseases. For example, estradiol and progesterone can be used to treat menstrual disorders in women, as well as menopausal disorders in women. Progesterone also has a tocolytic effect, allowing the pregnancy process to proceed normally.
In women, injectable or oral estradiol or progesterone, or a combination of both, can be used as a contraceptive. By chemically modifying the structure of sex hormones, new contraceptives with good performance have been synthesized. At present, the contraceptives used clinically are mainly norethisterone and 17-ethinyl estradiol, and the contraceptive success rate is over 99%. The principle is to inhibit the secretion of gonadotropin from the pituitary gland for ovulation and to make the endometrium suitable for fertilization and fetal implantation. The synthetic long-acting contraceptive ethinyl estradiol is absorbed and metabolized into ethinyl estradiol by adipose tissue after taking it, and then slowly released, so as to achieve the purpose of long-acting contraception.
3. Improve metabolic function: Many steroid hormones have good functions of regulating glucose metabolism and water and salt metabolism. Especially some synthetic steroid hormones, the effect is more significant.
