Chemistry and Relative Activity of Corticoids

CHEMISTRY AND RELATIVE ACTIVITY OF CORTICOIDS

Fig. 20.3 depicts the chemical structure of desoxy-corticosterone in blue line. It is a selective mineralocorticoid. Chemical modifications that result in clinically useful compounds are also indicated. Fluorination at position 9 or 6 has resulted in highly potent compounds. Synthetic steroids have largely replaced the natural compounds in therapeutic use, because they are potent, longer acting, more selective for glucocorticoid/mineralocorticoid action and have high oral activity.