Ursodeoxycholic Acid (sodium salt)

Ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA) is a secondary bile acid formed via epimerization of chenodeoxycholic acid (CDCA; Item No. 10011286).{48224,48225} UDCA is also a metabolite of lithocholic acid (LCA; Item No. 20253) in human liver microsomes.{48226} It inhibits taurocholic acid (Item No. 16215) uptake in HeLa cells expressing recombinant sodium/taurocholate cotransporting polypeptide (NTCP) with an IC50 value of 3.6 ?M.{24182} UDCA (50 ?M) inhibits apoptosis induced by deoxycholic acid (DCA; Item Nos. 20756 | 18231) or ethanol in primary rat hepatocytes.{48227} 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.