Melting point 

149-151 °C(lit.)

alpha 

12 º (c=2, ethanol 96% 25 ºC)

Boiling point

370.65°C (rough estimate)

density

1.0484 (rough estimate)

refractive index

1.4709 (estimate)

Fp 

9℃

storage temp

Hormones

pka

15.02±0.60(Predicted)

form 

Fine Crystalline Powder

color 

White

Water Solubility 

21.8mg/L(23.5 ºC)

Merck 

2871

BRN

2058110

InChIKey

FMGSKLZLMKYGDP-USOAJAOKSA-N

CAS DataBase Reference

53-43-0

NIST Chemistry Reference

EPA Substance Registry System

Hazard Codes 

Xi,T,F

Risk Statements 

Safety Statements 

RIDADR 

UN1230 - class 3 - PG 2 - Methanol, solution

WGK Germany 

2

RTECS 

BV8396000

HS Code 

29372900

description

Dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) is a steroid hormone that is a popular nonprescription oral “dietary supplement” used by men to enhance cognitive function, mood, libido, and athletic performance.
Before 1994, DHEA was a prescription medicine. After the passage of the Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act of 1994, DHEA was reclassified as a nutritional supplement.
Although sold over the counter in 25- and 50-mg strengths, DHEA is widely touted to maximize results at doses of 200 mg or higher.
DHEA is banned by the International Olympic Committee and the National Collegiate Athletic Association as an anabolic agent.
Limited information is available regarding potential harmful effects resulting from its supplemental use.

Indications and Usage

Dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA,) chemical name 3β-hydroxy-5alpha-androstane-17-ketone, is an esterifying 3–β–hydroxy steroid retaining 5,6 cholesterol.
A white crystalline powder, soluable in ethanol, ether, and benzene, and slightly soluable in chroloform and petroleum ether. Precipitates in digitalis.
DHEA is an estrogen precursor secreted by the reticular layer of the human adrenal cortex.

Prevents obesity, resists diabetes, fights cancer, fights cortical disease, and delays senility treats immune deficiencies, promotes the growth and differentiation of bone cells, and promotes the synthesis of protein.
It also resists viral infections, improves memory, and relieves nervous tension.
DHEA is the main ingredient in steroid hormone intermediates (such as norethindrone and bisacetylene, etc.) and in birth control, and is involved in the secretion of many adrenal hormones.
It has undergone extensive clinical research on treating menopausal syndrom, chorionitis, coronary heart disease, gout, psoriasis, AIDS and so on.

Mechanisms of Action

DHEA has a thyroid stimulating effect inhibiting food and fat intake and reducing fat accumulation, etc.
It improves glucose tolerance, increases insulin level and fights diabetes.
It can enhance endocrine system actiity, reduce cortisol levels, and resist a variety of pathological processes.
It can help the body obtain cortical antibodies.
DHEA has a strong protective and synergistic effect when used to treat tumors, becuase it inhibits ribose 5-phosphate.
Inhibits cancer by inhibiting excessive mitochondria (NADPH) and ribose 5-phosphate esters.
Regulates the growth of pancreatic cancer cells by regulating the concentration of estrogen in blood plasma.
A decline in GnRH gene expression leads to aging, and DHEA can restore GnRH neuronal activity, stopping or improving certain diseases associated with declines in DHEA by stimulating GnRH biosynthesis.
Restores impaired immune response, improves T- and B-cell function, and plays an important role in enhancing the physiological activity of insulin-like growth factor (IGF-1,) and is a potentially useful drug for immunodeficiency. DHEA alone cannot directly affect the growth and differential of osteoblasts, but it can do so by influencing 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3.
The effects of DHEA on bone mass depend on the presence and form of sex hormones in bone cells and their endrocine effects on osteoblasts.
DHEA is an anabolic protein hormone which promotes protein synthesis.
According to the findings of Marrero and others, feeding DHEA (0.45%) to mice increased liver weight, increasing liver mitochondria by guiding liver protein restoring RNA and protein synthesis.

Chemical Properties

white fine crystalline powder.

Originator

Aslera ,Genelabs Technologies, Inc.

Occurrence

DHEA is naturally occurring in yam (see Wild Yam, p. 596-597).