pregnanolone
/prɛɡˈnanələʊn/Biochemistry and Medicine
noun
A naturally occurring neuroactive steroid which is a reduced metabolite of progesterone and is used as a sedative and hypnotic, especially in general anaesthesia.
- Chemical name: 3α-hydroxy-5β-pregnan-20-one; C21H36O2..
Origin
1930s; earliest use found in Chemical Abstracts. From pregnane + -ol + -one, after German Pregnanolon.