pregnenolone
/prɛɡˈniːnələʊn/Biochemistry and Medicine
noun
A naturally occurring neuroactive steroid which is a precursor of progesterone and other steroid hormones and has been used an anti-inflammatory agent; 3β-hydroxypregn-5-en-20-one, C21H32O2.
Origin
1930s; earliest use found in Chemical Abstracts. From pregn- + -ene + -ol + -one, after German Pregnenolon.