Ursodeoxycholic Acid as a Biliary Agent Used in the Treatment of Liver Disease: An Overview Gaikwad S.B.*, Bakal R.L., Chandewar A.V., Roge A.B., Sakhare R.S., Shep S.G. P. Wadhwani College of Pharmacy, Yavatmal -445001 *Corresponding Author: Santosh B. Gaikwad, P. Wadhwani College of Pharmacy, Yavatmal -445001. Email: santosh_gaikwad1983@yahoo.com Mob. No.: 09699773654
Online published on 20 March, 2013. Abstract Ursodeoxycholic acid is a dihydroxy bile acid with a rapidly expanding spectrum of usage in acute and chronic liver diseases. The various mechanisms of action of this hydrophilic bile acid include direct cytoprotection, detergent action on dysfunctional microtubules, immunomodulation and induction of hypercholeresis. Its efficacy in primary biliary cirrhosis and primary sclerosing cholangitis as an adjunct to medical therapy has been well established. Newer indications include its use in the management of chronic hepatitis, cirrhosis, post liver transplant rejection, graft versus-host disease and acute viral hepatitis, where it not only relieves symptoms of holestasis but also arrests ongoing hepatocyte necrosis. Top Keywords Biliary cirrhosis, primary sclerosing cholangitis, Ursodeoxycholic acid. Top |