Description
Ursodeoxycholicacidisanendogenoussecondarybileacidproducedbybacterialmetabolismofbileacidsintheintestines.Ursodeoxycholicaciddecreasescholesterolabsorption,dissolvesgallstones,andtreatscirrhosisandotherliverdiseases.Thiscompoundexhibitsimmunosuppressive,antioxidative,hepatoprotective,anticancer,andgastrointestinalmotilitymodulatingactivities.Inanimalmodels,ursodeoxycholicaciddecreasesspleenocyteproliferationandlevelsofIL-2,L-6,andIFN-γ,increaseslevelsofIL-10,andpreventsallograftrejection.Inotheranimalmodels,thiscompoundincreaseslevelsofglutathioneanddecreaseslevelsofmalondialdehyde,myeloperoxidase,andROS.Incoloncancercells,ursodeoxycholicacidinhibitscellularproliferationandinducesapoptosis;similarly,italsoinducesdifferentiation,senescence,andHDAC6-dependenthypoacetylation.Inothercancermodels,thiscompoundinhibitstelomeraseandmayexhibitchemopreventivepotential.Invivo,ursodeoxycholicaciddecreasesgastrointestinaltransittimeandincreasesgastricemptyingrates.