Synthesis and biological activity of azasteroidal [3,2-c]- and [17,16-c]pyrazoles

Article abstract of DOI:10.1016/0223-5234(96)89140-9

Cholesterol, testosterone acetate and dehydroepiandrosterone acetate were used as starting materials for the preparation of azasteroidal [3,2-c]- and [17,16-c]pyrazole derivatives. In case of the 4-aza androstane series, a mixture of 5α/5β epimers 8 was obtained, which were separated by chemical methods. The compounds 4, 5, 10, 12, 13, 15, 16 and 18-22 were screened for antiinflammatory activity using the carrageenan rat paw oedema model. Oxirane 22 was found to be around ten times more potent than hydrocortisone. Evaluation of compounds 14, 18 and 19 for their antineoplastic activity was also carried out at the National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, MD, USA, using standard procedures.