474-25-9

Chenodeoxycholic acid is the first agent to be introduced into the US market for the treatment of radiolucent gallstones. Large scale clinical trials have demonstrated the safety and efficacy of this agent. Chenodeoxycholic acid reduces the biliary concentration of cholesterol relative to that of bile acids and phospholipid, reducing the saturation and thus the lithogenicity of the bile. Success rates in dissolving gallstones are in the range of 50-70% within 4-24 months of treatment. Continuation of the drug after stone dissolution may be required to prevent reoccurrence. Chenodeoxycholic acid is the 7α-isomer of ursodeoxycholic acid which was introduced into the European market in 1978.

chenodeoxycholic acid structure

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Rowell (USA)

ChEBI: Chenodeoxycholic acid is a dihydroxy-5beta-cholanic acid that is (5beta)-cholan-24-oic acid substituted by hydroxy groups at positions 3 and 7 respectively. It has a role as a human metabolite and a mouse metabolite. It is a bile acid, a dihydroxy-5beta-cholanic acid and a C24-steroid. It is a conjugate acid of a chenodeoxycholate.

To 1,400 ml of an approximately 50% water/triglycol solution of the potassium salt of chenodeoxycholic acid, obtained by the Wolff-Kishner reduction (using hydrazine hydrate and potassium hydroxide) from 50 g of 7- acetyl-12-ketochenodeoxycholic acid, 220 ml of dilute hydrochloric acid is added to bring the pH to 2. The solution is stirred and the crude chenodeoxycholic acid precipitates. The precipitate is recovered and dried to constant weight at about 60°C. About 36 g of the crude chenodeoxycholic acid, melting in the range of 126°-129°C, is obtained.
25 g of crude chenodeoxycholic acid so obtained is dissolved in 750 ml of acetonitrile while stirring and heating. 3 g of activated charcoal is added and then removed by suction filtering. The resulting liquid filtrate is cooled, the pure chenodeoxycholic acid crystallizing out. The crystals are recovered by suction filtering and the recovered crystals dried under vacuum. The yield is 19 g of pure chenodeoxycholic acid with a melting range of 168°-171°C.

CHEWM

Gallostone dissolving agent

Chenodeoxycholic acid was introduced in 1975 for the treatment of cholelithiasis. It is available in several countries and the World Health Organization is not aware that registration has been refused in any other country.

Nonflammable

This major bile acid in vertebrates (~80mg) is chromatographed on silica gel (5g) and eluted with CHCl3/EtOAc (3:2) and crystallised from EtOAc/hexane. It has IR: max 1705 cm-1(CHCl3). It also crystallises from EtOAc, EtOAc/heptane after purifying via the poorly soluble Na and K salt if necessary. [Kametani et al. J Org Chem 4 7 2331 1982, Beilstein 10 IV 1604.]