Formula C30H50O | Molar mass 426.71 g/mol | |
Lanosterol is a tetracyclic triterpenoid and is the compound from which all animal and fungi steroids are derived. By contrast plant steroids are produced via cycloartenol.
Contents
Role in creation of steroids
Elaboration of lanosterol under enzyme catalysis leads to the core structure of steroids. 14-Demethylation of lanosterol by CYP51 eventually yields cholesterol.
Recent research suggests that lanosterol might be instrumental in prevention of formation of cataracts in mammals.
Clinical significance
Preliminary studies in dogs and rabbits have shown that lanosterol can prevent and even reverse cataract formation. However, an attempt to replicate these results in age-related cataractous human lens nuclei removed during manual small incision cataract surgery by immersing them in lanosterol solution and incubating them for 6 days according to the method of Zhao et al., failed to reverse nuclear opacity.
