Synthesis of some polyhydroxysterols and investigation of relationship between their structure and cytotoxicity

In this paper, we have prepared six analogues of 24-methylenecholest-4-en-3 beta, 6 beta -diol (1) and investigated the relationships between the biol ogical activity and their structures. The results showed that the double bo nd in the molecule played an important role to the cytotoxicity of these po lyhydroxysterols. Their cytotoxicity reduced obviously while, the double bo nd in steroidal nucleus or side-chain was saturated. Compounds 5 and 8 show ed a moderate cytotoxic activity against human gastric carcinoma cells (MGC ) and cervical carcinoma cells (HELA).