| CASNO |
57-88-5 |
| APPEARANCE |
White to faintly yellow cryst. powder |
| PH |
|
| BOILING POINT |
480.648 °C at 760 mmHg |
| Synonyms |
Cholesterol(8CI);5:6-Cholesten-3b-ol;Cholest-5-en-3b-ol;Cholesterin;Cholesteryl alcohol;Dythol;Lidinit;Lidinite;NSC 8798;Provitamin D;D5-Cholesten-3b-ol; |
| HAZARD CLASS |
 Xn,  Xi |
GENERAL DESCRIPTION
GENERAL DESCRIPTION & APPLICATIONS Cholesterol is a steroid alcohol that is essentially insoluble in aqueous
solutions. In mammals, it is normally solubilized by its association with other
lipids, such as phospholipids or bile acids; thus, most cholesterol is found in
cell membranes, plasma lipoproteins, and bile. Cholesterol can be esterified
with a fatty acid to form cholesteryl esters. The latter form discrete lipid
droplets in cells, especially in cells of steroidogenic tissues, and in the
lipid core of low-density lipoproteins in the blood. Cholesterol is a fatty lipid
sparingly insoluble in water but soluble in a number of organic solvents. It is
the most common sterol of eukaryotes which a key constituent of cell membranes
and works as the precursor of bile acids, cholecalciferol (vitamin D) and
steroid hormones including cortisol, cortisone,aldosterone and sex hormone
progesterone in vertebrates. Cholesterol is used as an emulsifying agent in pharmaceuticals. The most cholesterols are synthesized by the liver and other tissues include the
adrenal glands and reproductive organs. Some cholesterol is absorbed from
dietary sources. The largest concentration of cholesterol is in the myelin
sheath that surrounds nerves and in the plasma membrane that surrounds all cells
in vertebrates (25% of brain lipid is cholesterol). Cholesterol can be esterified with a fatty acid to form
cholesteryl esters which form discrete lipid droplets in cells, especially in
cells of steroidogenic tissues, and in the lipid core of low-density
lipoproteins in the blood. The collection on the walls of arteries interferes
with the flow of blood. The High level of cholesterol in the blood is a major
risk factor for coronary heart diseases. Cholesteric materials are liquid crystals of mesomorphic phase in which molecules are parallel to each other within the plane of a layer, but the direction is oriented in loose parallel lines to form a helix through the layers. Cholesteric materials are temperature sensitive and have color changing ability upon temperature. Not only emulsifying and humectant properties but also liquid crystal properties of cholesterol and its derivatives (salts and esters) make them useful in the commercial applications of cosmetics and pharmaceuticals.
DESCRIPTION OF ALDEHYDE
PRECAUTION IN HANDLING
