Pharma & Specialty Chemical Standards

Hydrocortisone (IUPAC: (11β,17α,21-trihydroxy-3-oxopregn-4-en-18-yl) acetate), molecular formula C21H30O5, molecular weight 362.47 g/mol, is a corticosteroid with a pregnane backbone featuring 11β-hydroxyl, 17α-hydroxyl, and 21-hydroxyl groups. It exhibits anti-inflammatory, immunosuppressive, and metabolic regulatory properties. Therapeutically, it treats adrenal insufficiency, autoimmune disorders, and allergic reactions. Physicochemically, it is a white crystalline solid with low water solubility and high lipid solubility. Its mechanism involves binding glucocorticoid receptors, translocating to the nucleus, and modulating gene transcription of anti-inflammatory proteins and suppressing pro-inflammatory pathways via phosphodiesterase inhibition.