Description
Ethinyl Estradiol is a fine white to creamy white powder. It is a synthetic steroid. Used in combination with progestogen as an oral contraceptive. 17alpha-ethynylestradiol is a 3-hydroxy steroid that is estradiol substituted by a ethynyl group at position 17. It is a xenoestrogen synthesized from estradiol and has been shown to exhibit high estrogenic potency on oral administration. It has a role as a xenoestrogen. It is a 17-hydroxy steroid, a terminal acetylenic compound and a 3-hydroxy steroid.
Uses
Drospirenone; Ethinyl Estradiol: prevents ovulation and pregnancy. It may also be used to treat acne and premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD). It belongs to a group of medications called oral contraceptives. It is a combination of the hormones estrogen and progestin.
Toxicology
Ethinyl estradiol (EO, a semisynthetic 17 β-oestradiol) is the highly potent estrogen. The median lethal dose (LD50) of EO has been determined to be more than 1000 μg/kg body weight, orally in female albino rats. EO caused the cytotoxicity, leading to cancer in the uterus and ovary of female albino rat. Further, EO @ 500 μg/kg, orally, weekly for 8 and 12 weeks has been reported to cause liver damage in female albino rat.
Synthesis
Ethinyl estradiol, 17α-ethinyl-1,3,5(10)-estratrien-3-17β-diol (28.1.26), is made either by condensing estrone with acetylene in the presence of potassium hydroxide (Favorskii reaction), or by reacting sodium acetylenide in liquid ammonia with estrone.
