Ursodeoxycholic Acid

Ursodeoxycholic acid is absorbed from the gastrointestinal tract and undergoes enterohepatic recycling. It is partly conjugated in the liver before being excreted into the bile. Under the influence of intestinal bacteria the free and conjugated forms undergo 7alpha-dehydroxylation to lithocholic acid, some of which is excreted directly in the faeces and the rest absorbed and mainly conjugated and sulphated by the liver before excretion in the faeces. However, in comparison with chenodeoxycholic acid, less ursodeoxycholic acid undergoes such bacterial degradation. It suppresses hepatic synthesis & secretion of cholesterol & also inhibits intestinal absorption of cholesterol. In addition, it also solubilizes cholesterol in micelles & causes dispersion of cholesterol as liquid crystals in aqueous media. Overall, it makes the bile conducive to cholesterol stones dissolution.

Ursodeoxycholic acid is a chemical that occurs naturally in bile, where it has an important role in controlling the concentration of cholesterol in the blood. As an orally administered drug it is prescribed as an alternative to surgery in the treatment of gallstones. It acts by reducing levels of cholesterol in the bile, helping gallstones that are made predominantly of cholesterol to dissolve. The drug is ineffective with stones of a high calcium or bile acid content and its benefits are increased by weight loss and a diet high in fibre and low in fat. It dissolves gallstones in 3 to 18 months and the progress of treatment is assessed regularly by ultrasound or X-ray. Drug treatment is continued for at least 3 months after the stones have disappeared to prevent a recurrence, which is likely to recur in 25 percent of patients within a year of stopping treatment, so requiring prolonged treatment.

Ursodeoxycholic acid is a pharmaceutical product which is used for several indications including the dissolution of gall stones and the treatment and prevention of liver disease.

Packaging: 25kg fibre drums, sealed in a polyethylene liner.

Molecular Formula: C24H40O5
Molecular Weight: 408
CAS Number: 81-25-4

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