
A secosteroid () is a type of
steroid with a "broken" ring. The word ''secosteroid ''derives from the Latin verb ''secare'' meaning "to cut",
and 'steroid'. Secosteroids are alternatively described as a subclass of steroids
[; ; ] or derived from steroids.
Types or subclasses of secosteroids are defined by the carbon atoms of the parent steroid skeleton where the ring cleavage has taken place. For example, 9,10-secosteroids derived from
cleavage of the bond between carbon atoms C9 and C10 of the steroid B-ring (similarly 5,6-secosteroids, 13,14-steroids, etc.).
The prototypical secosteroid is
cholecalciferol (vitamin D
3).
Some
nonsteroidal estrogens, like
doisynolic acid and
allenolic acid, are also secosteroids or secosteroid-like compounds.
References
External links
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{{Steroid classification