Mineralocorticoids are mainly involved in the transport of electrolytes and distribution of water. Examples are aldosterone and deoxycorticosterone. The structure of Aldosterone and Deoxycorticosterone is given below.

The adrenal glands are positioned at the top of the kidney. The glands have two distinct parts, namely an inner dark-coloured mass called the medulla and an outer covering layer called cortex.

Bile salts facilitate digestion of fat in the intestine by being emulsifying agents. They lower the surface tension of water and emulsify the fats, where it is exposed to the action of pancreatic lipase. In intestine, bile acids combine with mono and digycerides to form tiny particles called micelles, which are about 1/100th of size…

Cholic acid and chenodeoxycholic acid are conjugated in the liver with either glycine or taurine through peptide linkages, forming the bile salts and glycocholic and taurocholic acids. Glycocholic acid Taurocholic acid.

Bile acids are synthesised from cholesterol. They are important factors in the digestion and absorption of lipids in intestines. Bile acids contain additional hydroxyl groups (1-3) attached to the steroid nucleus. The side chain has a carboxyl group.

Coprosterol is present in faeces. It is the reduced form of cholesterol, formed as a result of reduction by intestinal bacteria. It does not have the double bond between C5 and C6.

Calciferol is an activated ergosterol.

Ergot is present in ergot and yeast. It’s an important compound because it’s a precursor of vitamin D, which is converted by irradiation with UV. It has double bond in the side chain. It has an additional CH3 group in the side chain. Its structure is as follows:

This is an important sterol present in the skin. It has one more double bond at C7 – C8. It has only one H atom at C7 – C6 and none at C8. It is converted to vitamin D when irradiated with UV. Its structure is as follows:

Cholesterol is the precursor of various physiologically important compounds like bile acids, female sex hormones, and steroid hormones of adrenal cortex.