Disclosed are anti-fungal compositions prepared from non-woody plants of the genus Hesperaloe and processes for preparing the same. The anti-fungal compositions preferably comprise at least one saponin. In certain instances, the process includes providing biomass derived from non-woody plants of the genus Hesperaloe, milling the biomass, washing the biomass with a solvent to yield a crude extract and further purifying the crude extract by filtration to remove water insoluble compositions such as fibers, fines, epidermal debris and lipids. The compositions are particularly useful in preventing or inhibiting the growth of fungal organisms, particularly those in the Candida genus.

The invention relates to compounds of formula (I): wherein R.sub.1, R.sub.2, Y, R.sub.4 and R.sub.5 are as defined herein. The compounds are intermediates in the synthesis of synthetic bile acids. ##STR00001##

The present disclosure relates to treatment of a pulmonary disease. The methods and kits provided herein facilitate relieving the symptoms resulting from the pulmonary disease (e.g., asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), etc.).

The present invention provides an improved process for the preparation of 17-desoxy corticosteroid derivatives in a single chemical step by reacting the 17-hydroxy starting material with an excess of Trimethylsilyl Iodide. The present invention is specifically advantageous in preparing 17-desoxy corticosteroid derivatives having one or more halogen groups at positions 2, 6, 7 or 9 of the corticosteroid such as Clocortolone of Desoximetasone.

Compounds of formula I

##STR00001##

are disclosed. The compounds are useful for promoting skeletal muscle hypertrophy or treating skeletal muscle atrophy.

The present invention relates to new and improved processes for the preparation of deoxycholic acid (DCA) and pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof, as well as to novel intermediates useful for the preparation of DCA and pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof. The starting compounds are steroids, sterols or fermented phytosterols of vegetable origin, being of formula SM:

##STR00001##

The present invention discloses fused triterpene compounds, represented by the compounds of Formula I (as described herein), processes for their preparation, pharmaceutical compositions comprising the said compounds, their use as retinoid-related orphan receptors gamma (ROR) modulators and/or interleukin-17 (IL-17) inhibitors and methods for their use in the treatment of a disease or a disorder mediated by ROR and/or IL-17.

A compound and pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof for treating cancer, having a structure represented by the following formula (I) or formula (II):

##STR00001##

in which X and Y each individually represent:

##STR00002## R.sub.1, R.sub.2, R.sub.3, R.sub.4, and R.sub.5 individually represents hydrogen atom, acyl having 20 or less carbon atoms, alkyl having 20 or less carbon atoms, alkanoyl having 20 or less carbon atoms, aroyl having 20 or less carbon atoms, aryl having 20 or less carbon atoms, aralkyl having 20 or less carbon atoms, sulfonyl having 20 or less carbon atoms, phosphonyl having 20 or less carbon atoms, or haloacyl having 20 or less carbon atoms.

The present disclosure discloses a sterol derivative, a preparation method therefor and a use thereof. The sterol derivative includes a sterol compound with Structural Formula (I) or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, or an extract containing the sterol compound, or a composition containing the sterol compound, wherein Structural Formula (I) is as follows: ##STR00001##
where R.sub.1 is OH, O, H or C1-C3 alkyl; R.sub.2 is OH, H or C1-C3 alkyl; R.sub.3 is OH, O, H or C1-C3 alkyl; R.sub.4 is OH, H or C1-C3 alkyl, and at least one of R.sub.1, R.sub.2, R.sub.3 and R.sub.4 is OH. The compound with Structural Formula (I) can be used for preparing a drug having inhibitory effect on 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-coenzyme A (HMG-CoA) reductase activity and the prepared drug can effectively inhibit the HMG-CoA reductase activity or be used for preparing an anti-cancer drug.

The invention relates to a drug conjugate including a drug and a plant steroid. The drug conjugate may target the drug for intestinal cell delivery, and thus may be used to treat diseases, including intestinal diseases, or to affect intestinal metabolism. The invention therefore also relates to treating intestinal diseases and affecting intestinal metabolism with the drug conjugate.