Derived Lipids

(D) Derived Fats
Derived lipids are those compounds which are produced by the hydrolytic cleavage
of simple and compound lipids or lipid like compounds like steroids, essential oils,
aldehydes, ketones, alcohols, hydrocarbon etc. Derived fats include- Fatty acids
and alcohols (Aliphatic alcohols and steroids). Aliphatic alcohols like acetyl,
stearyl and mericyl alcohols). Steroids are alcohols and included in lipids due to
their ability to form esters with the fatty acids. These are always polycyclic ring
called as sterane nucleus with three cyclohexane ring with total 17 number of the
carbon. This ring contain six asymmetric carbon. Additional asymmetric carbon
are formed by the introduction of substituents in the cycle. The ring have polar/
hydrophilic group at C-5 and non-polar or hydrophobic carbon attached at C-17 of
the ring, so has amphipathic properties. It also have methyl group at caron number
10 and 13. These methyl group have same orientation in space with respect to
polycyclic ring.
Steroids represent a very large and varied group of compounds. These are organic
compounds of diverse biological activity and even small variation in their structure
or in the nature of the substituents result in major modification of their biological
activity. Steroids include the following categories of compounds.
1. Sterols
2. Bile salts
3. Steroid hormones
1 Sterols- These are the alcoholic compounds of the steroids and are found in
practically all the eukaryotes.
More than hundred sterols are known of which important are-

Cholesterol
It is best known animal sterol in nature and term cholesterol means ‘solid alcohol
from the bile’ as it is first isolated by the gall stones. It is particularly abundant in
nervous system and form 14% of dry white matter, 5% of grey matter, 12 % of
spinal cord and 1 % of the liver. It has molecular formula C27H45OH.
Physiologically it acts the component of cell membrane especially of RBCs and
form an insulating myelin sheath over the nerve fibres. It also act as precursor of
bile salts, steroid hormones like testosterone, progesterone, cortisol and vitamin D.
This shows that cholesterol is necessary for human life but the excess of
cholesterol is known to cause cardiovascular problems like arteriosclerosis,
hypertension, heart attack etc. The normal cholesterol level in young adults is
about 1.6 gm. per liter of blood which rises to about 2.5 g/ liter of blood of the age
of 55 years.
Ergosterols
Mostly found in fungus Clavis purpurea growing on rye plants. It has a chemical
formula C28H43OH and is a precursor for vitamin D2 (Calciferol) in the presence
of light. Chemically it differs from the cholesterol in the side chain attached at C-
17 and there is an additional double bond between 7 and 8.
2. Bile salts
Bile salts are the oxidative end products of cholesterol metabolism. Primary bile
salts are those that are synthesized in the hepatocytes of liver directly from
cholesterol. These include cholic acid and chenodeoxycholic acid. So synthesis of
bile salts from cholesterol is one of biotransformation reaction going in the liver.
Functions- 1 Bile salts represent the only significant way of excretion of

cholesterol.
2. Bile acids act as emulsifying agents so help in digestion of dietary triglycerides
by pancreatic lipase. These also help in fat digestion by activating pancreatic lipase
enzyme.
3. Bile acids increase the absorption of fat soluble vitamins particularly vitamin D
from the intestine.
3. Steroid Hormones
These are fat soluble hormones having a sterol ring and are derived from the
cholesterol. Chemists sometime classify the sterol hormones according to the
number of carbon atoms contained in their hormones. These include-
A Estrogens (C18 Hormones)
Estrogen are produced by the follicular cells of membranagranulosa of graffian
follicle of ovary, corpus luteum of the ovary and by the placenta during the second
and third trimester of the delivery. These include estradiol, esterone and estriol.
Secretion of estrogen is stimulated by Luteinizing hormone of anterior lobe
pituitary gland. One of most important estrogen is b-estradiol.
Functions- 1. Estrogen stimulate the growth and normal functioning of female
secondary sex organs like fallopian tubes, uterus etc. These regulate the cyclic
changes in uterus and ovaries during the menstrual cycle. 2. They also control the
development of female secondary sexual characters.
B. Androgen (C19 Hormones)
Androgens are produces by the Leydig cells (intestinal cells) of the testes of male
and adrenals in both the sexes. The ovary produce androgen in small amount.
Testosterone is the major androgen produced by the testes at the rate of 6-7 mg/
day in adult male. Active form of testosterone is its metabolite called 5α-
dihydrotestosterone (DHT). Other androgen are- androsterone, epiandrosterone and
dehydrosterone.
Functions- 1. Control the growth and development of male secondary characters.
2. Stimulate spermatogenesis
C. Progesterone (C21 Hormones)
It is steroid hormone secreted by an endocrine gland corpus luteum formed from
empty Graffian follicle during the pregnancy.
Function- 1. It stimulate the proliferation of endometrium of uterus and prepare it
for implantation. 2.It suspend ovulation during pregnancy.
D. Aldosterone (C21 hormone)
It is secreted by zona glomerulosa of adrenal cortex. Its secretion is stimulated by
decrease in sodium level or increase in potassium level in the blood. Its secretion is
regulated by ACTH of anterior lobe of pituitary.
Functions- 1 It maintain hypernatraemia (High Na+ level in the blood) and
hypokalaemia (low K+ level in blood) by increased sodium reabsorption from
nephric filtrate and decreased loss of sodium in sweat. Increased sodium
concentration increases salt concentration in the intestinal fluid which increase
water reabsorption and blood volume through osmotic concentration.
E Cortisol (C21 hormone)
It is the major glucocorticoid hormone secreted by zona fascicularis of adrenal
cortex. Its secretion is stimulated by low sugar level in the blood plasma and
regulated through ACTH of anterior lobe of pituitary.
Functions- 1 involved in carbohydrate metabolism 2. Anti-inflammatory and anti-
allergic actions.

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(D) Derived Fats

More than hundred sterols are known of which important are-

Functions- 1 Bile salts represent the only significant way of excretion of

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