A series of 21-arylidenepregnenolone derivatives and their corresponding epoxides were synthesized. The neuroprotective effects of these steroidal compounds against amyloid-β25– 35 (Aβ25–35)-and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2)-induced neurotoxicity in PC12 cells, and oxygen–glucose deprivation (OGD)-induced neurotoxicity in SH-SY5Y cells were evaluated. The bioassay results indicated that several 3β-pregn-21-benzylidene-20-one derivatives ...