Bolenol
Bolenol is an orally active anabolic-androgenic steroid, a 19-nortestosterone (estrene) derivative bearing a 17-alpha-ethyl group and lacking the 3-keto function. It is closely related to ethylestrenol and was described in older pharmacological literature as a weakly androgenic oral anabolic agent.
01 Overview
Bolenol is a 17-alpha-ethyl estrene steroid structurally akin to ethylestrenol, sharing the absence of the C3 ketone that shifts the compound toward a milder androgenic profile. It was documented in mid-20th-century steroid research as an oral anabolic candidate.
Human clinical data are minimal, and the compound never achieved broad clinical adoption. Its properties are inferred largely from its close structural relatives in the 19-nor oral anabolic family.
02 Mechanism
Androgen-receptor agonist; a 3-deketo 17-alpha-ethyl 19-nortestosterone derivative, orally active with relatively weak androgenicity.
03 Dosing
| Tier | Dose | Route | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Historical | 4–12 mg/day | Oral | Approximate figure inferred from ethylestrenol-class dosing; poorly documented. |
Ester comparison
| Ester | Half-life | Injection freq. | Testosterone by mass |
|---|
04 Effects
| Effect | Magnitude | Evidence | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mild anabolic effectNitrogen retention typical of weakly androgenic 19-nor orals. | unquantified | Preclinical | |
| Low androgenicityRelatively low virilising potential, similar to ethylestrenol. | unquantified | Preclinical |
05 Side effects
| Effect | Severity | Frequency | Evidence | Countermeasures |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| HPTA suppressionSuppression of endogenous testosterone production. | Moderate | Expected | Preclinical | |
| HepatotoxicityHepatic strain expected from a 17-alkylated oral steroid. | Moderate | Class effect | Preclinical |