Ursodiol

Ursodiol is a hydrophilic bile acid. It can replace the more cytotoxic hydrophobic bile acids normally present in bile, such as chenodeoxycholic acid, thereby reducing bile toxicity toward hepatocytes and biliary epithelial cells, stabilizing cell membrane structure, and decreasing cellular injury and inflammation. Ursodiol also promotes bile secretion and bile flow, reducing cholestasis, and decreases cholesterol secretion into bile, thereby inhibiting the formation of cholesterol gallstones.