Summary
1. Three crystalline compounds A, B and C have been isolated from human smegma.
2. Chemistry of compound A has been studied in detail. It has been shown to be an ester ofβ-cholestanol with a saturated fatty acid of the formula C20H40O2. Compound C has been identified with an authentic sample ofβ-cholestanol by mixed melting point and infra-red spectrum. Compound B occurs in very small amounts. Available evidence indicates it to be a hydroxy steroid.
3. Three new ester ofβ-cholestanol were prepared in connection with the work.
The study was carried out under the auspices of the Indian Council of Medical Research. The authors are grateful to the organisation for the help and encouragement received from it. The authors should also like to thank Drs. R. V. Rajam, T. V. Patel, Varma, P. N. Shaha and M. L. Shroff for a generous collection of human smegma from the hospitals.
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The work was submitted for M.Sc. Thesis of the Bombay University in 1956.
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Kamat, V.B., Panse, T.B. & Khanolkar, V.R. Constituents of human smegma. Proc. Indian Acad. Sci. 52, 1–8 (1960). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03050046
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03050046