Synthesis, characterization, antimicrobial and anticancer studies of new steroidal pyrazolines

A convenient synthesis of 2′-(2″,4″-dinitrophenyl)-5α-cholestano [5,7-c d] pyrazolines 4–6 from cholest-5-en-7-one 1–3 was performed and structural assignment of the products was confirmed on the basis of IR, 1H NMR, 13C NMR, MS and analytical data. The synthesized compounds were screened for in vitro antimicrobial activity against different strains during which compound 6 showed potent antimicrobial behaviour against Corynebacterium xerosis and Staphylococcus epidermidis. The synthesized compounds were also screened for in vitro anticancer activity against human cancer cell lines during which compound 5 exhibited significant anticancer activity.