Ursocholic acid is the 7β-hydroxy epimer of cholic acid, with highly hydrophilic[1]. Ursocholic acid can be well absorbed and excreted into the bile in animals, which is converted to deoxycholic acid by intestinal flora[2]. Ursocholic acid has been widely used in comparative studies on the regulation of bile acid secretion and gallstone dissolution[3].
In vivo, Ursocholic acid treatment via feeding at a dose of 5.4g/day for 5 weeks reduced the increase in gallbladder cholesterol and phospholipid levels in mice induced by the lithogenic diet, resulting in increased fecal excretion of deoxycholic acid and cholic acid[4].
References:
[1] Tonin F, Arends I W C E. Latest development in the synthesis of ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA): a critical review[J]. Beilstein journal of organic chemistry, 2018, 14(1): 470-483.
[2] Tint S G, Batta A K, Dayal B, et al. Metabolism of ursocholic acid in humans: conversion of ursocholic acid to deoxycholic acid[J]. Hepatology, 1992, 15(4): 645-650.
[3] Howard P J, Gleeson D, Murphy G M, et al. Ursocholic acid: bile acid and bile lipid dose response and clinical studies in patients with gall stones[J]. Gut, 1989, 30(1): 97-103.
[4] Uchida K, Aklyoshi T, Igimi H, et al. Differential effects of ursodeoxycholic acid and ursocholic acid on the formation of biliary cholesterol crystals in mice[J]. Lipids, 1991, 26(7): 526-530.