Methods of preventing or retarding or reversing or abolishing the onset of Parkinson's and other neurodegenerative diseases are discussed.

The present invention relates, in its broadest aspects, to steroidal glycosides useful in the treatment of skin disorders. Particularly, the invention relates to the use of certain steroidal glucosides, per se, or in the form aglycona, derivatives of spirostanol, of its precursor furastanol, or mixtures thereof, used in the treatment of skin disorders, for instance, psoriasis. The invention further relates to formulations containing steroidal glycosides, the process of obtaining extract from the Furcraea foetida plant, and a method of treating skin disorders.

Steroid derivative regulators, a method for preparing the same, and uses thereof are described. Specifically, a compound of formula (I), a preparation method therefor, a pharmaceutical composition containing the compound, and uses thereof as a regulator the of GABA.sub.A receptor for treating depression, convulsion, Parkinson's disease, and nervous system diseases are described, wherein the substituents of the formula (I) are as defined in the description.

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The present invention pertains to pharmaceutical chemical field, and relates to a sterol derivative as well as preparation method and uses thereof. Specifically, the present invention relates to a compound of Formula I, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt, ester or ether thereof, wherein, R.sub.1 is selected from the group consisting of OH, O(carbonyl), H, and C.sub.1-C.sub.3 alkyl; R.sub.2 is selected from the group consisting of OH, H, and C.sub.1-C.sub.3 alkyl; R.sub.3 is selected from the group consisting of OH, O, H, and C.sub.1-C.sub.3 alkyl; R.sub.4 is selected from the group consisting of OH, H, and C.sub.1-C.sub.3 alkyl; and none, one, two, three or four of R.sub.1, R.sub.2, R.sub.3, and R.sub.4 are OH. The compound of the present invention can inhibit HMG-CoA reductase, tumor cells and lipase effectively, and is a potential drug for reducing blood-fat, antitumors, or for losing weight.

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The present invention further provides method of preparing nanocrystals of a hydrophobic therapeutic agent such as fluticasone or triamcinolone, pharmaceutical compositions (e.g., topical or intranasal compositions) thereof and methods for treating and/or preventing the signs and/or symptoms of disorders such as blepharitis, meibomian gland dysfunction or skin inflammation or a respiratory disease (e.g., asthma).

The present invention relates to a new class of steroid saponins that have interesting biological activity. In particular the present invention relates to a class of steroid saponins in which the sugar moiety has been selectively functionalised to introduce a moiety that contains either, (i) a hydrogen ion donor, (ii) a hydrogen ion acceptor or (iii) a combination thereof. These new, water-soluble compounds are found to not only have potent anti-cancer properties per se but also have the ability to promote the immune response in a subject and can thus act as adjuvants for T-cell activation in cancer therapy.

The present invention pertains to pharmaceutical chemical field, and relates to a sterol derivative as well as preparation method and uses thereof. Specifically, the present invention relates to a compound of Formula I, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt, ester or ether thereof, wherein, R.sub.1 is selected from the group consisting of OH, O(carbonyl), H, and C.sub.1-C.sub.3 alkyl; R.sub.2 is selected from the group consisting of OH, H, and C.sub.1-C.sub.3 alkyl; R.sub.3 is selected from the group consisting of OH, O, H, and C.sub.1-C.sub.3 alkyl; R.sub.4 is selected from the group consisting of OH, H, and C.sub.1-C.sub.3 alkyl; and none, one, two, three or four of R.sub.1, R.sub.2, R.sub.3, and R.sub.4 are OH. The compound of the present invention can inhibit HMG-CoA reductase, tumor cells and lipase effectively, and is a potential drug for reducing blood-fat, antitumors, or for losing weight.

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Described is a dihydroartemisinin-steroid conjugate of formula (I), or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, where position 10 of dihydroartemisinin is linked to the steroid through a linker X. This application further provides a preparation method of the dihydroartemisinin-steroid conjugate and an application of the dihydroartemisinin-steroid conjugate in the preparation of a drug for treating cancer. The dihydroartemisinin-steroid conjugate of the invention exhibits potent inhibitory activity against various tumor cells and low cytotoxicity, moreover, the conjugate is capable of penetrating the blood-brain barrier, having a broad application prospect. ##STR00001##

An antidepressant steroid compound and a preparation method and an application thereof; the structure of said compound is shown in formula (I), and the definition of each substituent is as described in the description and claims. Compound of the present invention may be used in the prevention, treatment, therapy or alleviation of a plurality of diseases and conditions such as depression.

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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.).