Prednisolone
Also called metacortandralone, hydroretrocortine, PRDL and delta-hydrocortisone.
A corticosteroid for inflammation and autoimmune conditions. It is the active form the liver makes from prednisone.
Sources and notes
- The introductionfrom sourceMoleculeFinder curated
- Other namesfrom sourceWikidataIts English label and aliases on Wikidata.
- Formula and weightcomputedPubChem
- 2D drawingcomputedPubChem structure, drawn by RDKit
- 3D modelfrom sourcePubChem 3D conformerLoaded after the page has painted, and on a phone only when you ask for it; the 2D drawing shows until it arrives.
Where you encounter it
Dispensed on prescription, not sold on a shelf. Prednisolone on the product labels we hold.
Medicines
Every product and list we hold
Sources and notes
- The product labels and their strengthsfrom sourceDailyMed (FDA label)Each label lists the molecule as an ingredient, and an active ingredient at the strength shown.
- How it gets therefrom sourceMoleculeFinder curatedEach mark is set by hand on our lists, never inferred; a label's ingredient is added by the maker. A row with no mark data says Not marked.
- The line abovefrom sourceMoleculeFinder curatedFrom the group the molecule belongs to.
Explore its structure
Choose a part to light it up.
A C=O with a carbon on each side. Its oxygen accepts hydrogen bonds but has no hydrogen to give, and it resists oxidation better than an aldehyde.
From: standard chemistry.
An O-H on a carbon that is not part of an aromatic ring, the group that makes a molecule an alcohol. It both gives and accepts hydrogen bonds, which helps the molecule mix with water.
From: standard chemistry.
Rings joined where they share atoms, or a single ring standing alone. Atoms in a ring are held in place, so this part keeps its shape while chains around it can bend.
From: standard chemistry.
Sources and notes
- The drawingcomputedPubChem structure, drawn by RDKitThe page's one shipped drawing, with the chosen part lit in amber under it.
- The partscomputedFound by ruleEach part is found by a chemical pattern, never picked by hand atom by atom; its words say where they come from.
Properties and sources
Calculated by PubChem
- Molecular formula
- C21H28O5
- Molecular weight
- 360.4 g/mol
- XLogP3octanol/water, log units
- 1.6
- Polar surface areatopological
- 94.8 Ų
- H-bond donors
- 3
- H-bond acceptors
- 5
- Rotatable bonds
- 2
- Complexity
- 724
Measured LD50, HSDB via PubChem
1,000 mg/kg pure prednisolone, mouse, another route
An LD50 is an animal study measurement, not a dose for a person.
Reported Hazard label (GHS), ECHA via PubChem
Danger Irritant pictogram (GHS07), Health hazard pictogram (GHS08) and Environmental pictogram (GHS09); hazard statements H302, H332, H360, H361, H372, H373, H411
Reported Licence
The US Food and Drug Administration licenses Prednisolone for human use (NDA 017100, authorized November 10, 1972), as Pred Mild. Drugs@FDA
Groups it belongs to
- Category
- Prescription medicine
- Family
- Corticosteroids
- Hazard classes
- Irritant, Health hazard, Environmental hazard, GHS Danger
C[C@]12C[C@@H]([C@H]3[C@H]([C@@H]1CC[C@@]2(C(=O)CO)O)CCC4=CC(=O)C=C[C@]34C)OPubChem CID 5755 · Wikidata Q11426176 · InChIKey OIGNJSKKLXVSLS-VWUMJDOOSA-N · Data refreshed
Questions
- What is Prednisolone?
- A corticosteroid for inflammation and autoimmune conditions. It is the active form the liver makes from prednisone.
- How toxic is Prednisolone?
- The reported LD50 of Prednisolone is 1,000 mg/kg (mouse, other). An LD50 is an animal study measurement, not a dose for a person. Its GHS hazard label carries the signal word Danger and the hazard pictograms Irritant, Health hazard and Environmental. from sourcefrom source
- What kind of molecule is Prednisolone?
- Prednisolone has the formula C21H28O5 and a molecular weight of 360.4 g/mol. MoleculeFinder files it under corticosteroids, in the prescription medicine group. from sourcefrom sourcefrom sourcefrom source
- What else is Prednisolone called?
- Prednisolone is also called metacortandralone, hydroretrocortine, PRDL and delta-hydrocortisone. from source
- Who licenses Prednisolone as a medicine?
- The US Food and Drug Administration licenses Prednisolone for human use (NDA 017100, authorized November 10, 1972), as Pred Mild. from source
Sources and notes
- Calculated valuescomputedPubChemComputed from the structure, so no laboratory conditions apply; complexity is PubChem's own structural score.
- LD50from sourceHSDB via PubChem
- Hazard labelfrom sourceECHA via PubChemThe label combines these classifications.
- ECHAfrom sourceAttributionSource: European Chemicals Agency, echa.europa.eu.
- Licencefrom sourceDrugs@FDARead 2026-10-21.
- Data refreshedfrom sourceMoleculeFinder2026-11-09
Keep exploring
More related molecules
- Triamcinolone Also a corticosteroid
- Dexamethasone Also a corticosteroid
- Betamethasone Also a corticosteroid
- Triamcinolone acetonide Also a corticosteroid
- Cortisol Both carry an alcohol and a ketone group.
- Aldosterone Both carry an alcohol and a ketone group.
Sources and notes
- The same kind of moleculefrom sourceMoleculeFinder curated groupsA structural neighbour in the same family or type group; the line names the group in its own words.
- Similar in shapecomputedRDKit Morgan/TanimotoNeighbours by structural fingerprint; the sentence names the chemical groups the two share.
- The drawingscomputedPubChem structures, drawn by RDKit