Ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA) is a secondary bile acid formed
via epimerization of chenodeoxycholic acid (CDCA; Item No.
10011286).
1,2 UDCA is also a metabolite of lithocholic acid (LCA; Item No.
20253) in human liver microsomes.
3 It inhibits taurocholic acid (Item No.
16215) uptake in HeLa cells expressing recombinant sodium/taurocholate cotransporting polypeptide (NTCP) with an IC
50 value of 3.6 μM.
4 UDCA (50 μM) inhibits apoptosis induced by deoxycholic acid (DCA; Item Nos.
20756 |
18231) or ethanol in primary rat hepatocytes.
5 Dietary administration of UDCA blocks DCA-induced increases in the number of TUNEL-positive hepatocytes in rats. Formulations containing UDCA have been used in the treatment of primary biliary cirrhosis.
