BILE SALTS

Uses

Bile salts may be used as one of the selective agents to prevent the growth of injured Escherichia coli cells, in an experiment done in order to identify the specific agent in the selective media which would inhibit the growth of the injured Escherichia coli ML30 cells. It may also be used for identification of isolates of Vibrio (Beneckea) vulnificus which is a halophilic bacterium, found responsible for causing several human infections.

Definition

Sodium salts of glycocholic and taurocholic acids important for physiological fat absorption.

Biochem/physiol Actions

Bile salts are surface-active steroid compounds and their primary physiological function is to aid in the digestion of lipophilic nutrients in intestinal tracts of vertebrates.