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@article{192411,
        author = {Mr. Mayur Ramdas Raut and Mr. Shubham Haribhau Sanap and Mr. Ankush Eknath Rathod and Ms. Prachi Murkute and Mr. Kavkshik Kamble and Ms. Ashwini Pundkar},
        title = {An Overview of Steroids: Their Chemical Nature, Biological Roles, and Importance in Human Health and Medicine},
        journal = {International Journal of Innovative Research in Technology},
        year = {2026},
        volume = {12},
        number = {9},
        pages = {1558-1563},
        issn = {2349-6002},
        url = {https://ijirt.org/article?manuscript=192411},
        abstract = {Steroids constitute a broad and structurally diverse class of organic compounds unified by the presence of the cyclopentanoperhydrophenanthrene nucleus. Variations in functional groups, oxidation states, and side-chain substitutions give rise to multiple subclasses, including corticosteroids, sex steroids, anabolic steroids, bile acids, and sterols such as cholesterol. These structural modifications are directly responsible for differences in physicochemical properties, receptor affinity, metabolic behavior, and biological activity, emphasizing the close relationship between steroid chemistry and physiological function.
Biologically, steroids are indispensable regulators of numerous vital processes. Hormonal steroids play a central role in maintaining metabolic balance, electrolyte and water homeostasis, reproductive health, stress response, immune regulation, and the development of primary and secondary sexual characteristics. Cholesterol occupies a pivotal position in steroid biochemistry, serving as the primary precursor for the biosynthesis of steroid hormones, bile acids, and vitamin D. Through these pathways, cholesterol links steroid metabolism with lipid digestion, calcium absorption, bone health, and endocrine regulation. The tightly controlled synthesis, transport, and degradation of steroids highlight their importance in sustaining normal cellular signaling and systemic homeostasis.},
        keywords = {Corticosteroids, Sex Hormones, Anabolic Steroids, Cholesterol and Bile Acids, Steroid Metabolism and Hormone Regulation, Therapeutic Applications and Adverse Effects of Steroids},
        month = {February},
        }