{
    "abstract": "This updated literature review on heterosteroids and drug research has information on chemical structure, pharmacology, and effects. It first discusses the anti-inflammatory heterosteroids, such as mometasone furoate and cortivazol. It also covers heterosteroidal antimineralocorticoids and anabolic hetero derivatives. The review discusses at length the 19-norsteroid, mifepristone (RU-486), which exhibits antiprogestational activity and is being used for fertility control in women. It also has antiglucocorticoid activity and shows promise as a treatment of diseases characterized by muscle atrophy. In vitro studies indicate that mifepristone inhibits growth of breast cancer cell lines and of endometrial cancer cell lines. It has already exhibited growth inhibitory effects in some breast cancer patients. Discussions of mifepristone's pharmacokinetics and structural modifications of mifepristone follow. Danazol is an antigonadotropin and is used to treat endometriosis, benign breast disease, precocious puberty, hereditary angioneurotic edema, menorrhagia, some types of infertility, and gynecomastia. Danazol effects considerable changes in lipid metabolism. Other hormonal, antihormonal, and/or antifertility heterosteroids and/or aspects include androgen antagonists (e.g., cyproterone acetate), estrogen activity, antiestrogens, STS-557, and oximinosteroids. Heterosteroidal inhibitors of steroid hormone biosynthesis discussed are aromatase inhibitors, 5 alpha-reductase inhibitors, and 3 beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase inhibitors (trilostane, epostane, and azastene). Heterosteroids affect the cardiovascular system, including the cardiac glycosides, antiarrhythmic agents, and antilipemic agents. Some heterosteroids affect central nervous system activity (e.g., RU-5135 causes convulsions in rodents). Pancuronium analogues and chandonium and analogues are neuromuscular blocking azasteroids. In addition to danazol and RU-486, several other antineoplastic heterosteroids exist (e.g., estramustine phosphate sodium, a prostate cancer drug).",
    "authors": [
        {
            "affiliation": "Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Panjab University, Chandigarh, India.",
            "firstname": "H",
            "initials": "H",
            "lastname": "Singh"
        },
        {
            "affiliation": null,
            "firstname": "D P",
            "initials": "DP",
            "lastname": "Jindal"
        },
        {
            "affiliation": null,
            "firstname": "M R",
            "initials": "MR",
            "lastname": "Yadav"
        },
        {
            "affiliation": null,
            "firstname": "M",
            "initials": "M",
            "lastname": "Kumar"
        }
    ],
    "conclusions": null,
    "copyrights": null,
    "doi": "10.1016/s0079-6468(08)70366-7",
    "journal": "Progress in medicinal chemistry",
    "keywords": [
        "Adrenal Cortex Hormones",
        "Anabolic Steroids",
        "Androgens",
        "Biology",
        "Cardiovascular Effects",
        "Central Nervous System",
        "Central Nervous System Effects",
        "Contraception",
        "Contraceptive Agents--pharmacodynamics",
        "Drugs--pharmacodynamics",
        "Endocrine System",
        "Family Planning",
        "Hormone Antagonists",
        "Hormones--pharmacodynamics",
        "Literature Review",
        "Metabolic Effects",
        "Neurologic Effects",
        "Physiology",
        "Research Activities",
        "Ru-486--pharmacodynamics",
        "Steroid Metabolic Effects",
        "Treatment"
    ],
    "methods": null,
    "publication_date": "1991-01-01",
    "pubmed_id": "1843548",
    "results": null,
    "title": "Heterosteroids and drug research.",
    "xml": "<Element 'PubmedArticle' at 0x788506cf5530>"
}