Cortisol

Cortisol
Names
	IUPAC name 11β,17α,21-Trihydroxypregn-4-ene-3,20-dione
	Systematic IUPAC name (1R,3aS,3bS,9aR,9bS,11aS)-1,10-Dihydroxy-1-(hydroxyacetyl)-9a,11a-dimethyl-1,2,3,3a,3b,4,5,8,9,9a,9b,10,11,11a-tetradecahydro-7H-cyclopenta[a]phenanthen-7-one
Identifiers
CAS Number	50-23-7;
3D model (JSmol)	Interactive image;
ChEBI	CHEBI:17650;
ChEMBL	ChEMBL389621;
ChemSpider	5551;
DrugBank	DB00741;
ECHA InfoCard	100.000.019
KEGG	D00088;
PubChem CID	5754;
UNII	WI4X0X7BPJ;
CompTox Dashboard (EPA)	DTXSID7020714 ;
	InChI InChI=1S/C21H30O5/c1-19-7-5-13(23)9-12(19)3-4-14-15-6-8-21(26,17(25)11-22)20(15,2)10-16(24)18(14)19/h9,14-16,18,22,24,26H,3-8,10-11H2,1-2H3/t14-,15-,16-,18+,19-,20-,21-/m0/s1 Key: JYGXADMDTFJGBT-VWUMJDOOSA-N;
	SMILES O=C4\C=C2/[C@]([C@H]1[C@@H](O)C[C@@]3([C@@](O)(C(=O)CO)CC[C@H]3[C@@H]1CC2)C)(C)CC4;
Properties
Chemical formula	C21H30O5
Molar mass	362.460 g/mol
	Except where otherwise noted, data are given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C [77 °F], 100 kPa). Infobox references

Cortisol is a steroid hormone in the glucocorticoid class of hormones and a stress hormone. When used as medication, it is known as hydrocortisone.

Cortisol is produced in many animals, mainly by the zona fasciculata of the adrenal cortex in an adrenal gland. In other tissues, it is produced in lower quantities. By a diurnal cycle, cortisol is released and increases in response to stress and a low blood-glucose concentration. It functions to increase blood sugar through gluconeogenesis, suppress the immune system, and aid in the metabolism of calories. It also decreases bone formation. These stated functions are carried out by cortisol binding to glucocorticoid or mineralocorticoid receptors inside a cell, which then bind to DNA to affect gene expression.