Ursocholic acid

Ursocholic acid, a bile acid present in mammalian bile, is converted to deoxycholic acid (UDC) by the mouse intestinal flora. Ursocholic acid acts as a gallstone dissolving agent in the liver through anti-apoptosis, anti-inflammatory, immunomodulatory, bile regulation, and coordinated changes in mitochondrial integrity and cell signaling, Ursocholic acid also has favorable effects on bones in patients with chronic cholestasis^{[1][2][3][4][5]}. IC50 & Target:7α-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase^[1], hepatocyte nuclear factor 1α^[2]. In Vitro:Ursocholic acid (1 μM, 10 μM, 100 μM and 1 mM, 24-72 h) has no deleterious effect on osteoblast survival at a lower concentration (100 μM), increases osteoblast differentiation treated with LCA (10 μM), and neutralizes the deleterious effects of bilirubin (50 μM)^[5].
Ursocholic acid (1 μM, 10 μM and 100 μM, 7-28 days) increases osteoblast mineralization by 35% and 9% at days 21 and 28 at a dose of 100 μM^[5].
In Vivo:Ursocholic acid (10, 100 and 500 mg/kg, i.g.; once daily for 6 days) reduces significantly inflammatory cytokine levels and intestinal villus damage in Sprague-Dawley rats^[4].