Aramchol, also known as arachidyl amido cholanoic acid, is a conjugate of arachidic acid and cholic acid . It reduces ex vivo cholesterol crystallization in native human bile and dissolves pre-formed cholesterol crystals in a dose-dependent manner. In vivo, aramchol completely prevents the formation of cholesterol crystals and gallstones in mice fed a lithogenic, high-fat diet. It also prevents lithogenic, high-fat diet-induced fatty liver in mice, rats, and hamsters. Formulations containing aramchol have been investigated clinically for the treatment of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD).
References:
[1]. Gilat, T., Leikin-Frenkel, A., Goldiner, I., et al. Arachidyl amido cholanoic acid (Aramchol) is a cholesterol solubilizer and prevents the formation of cholesterol gallstones in inbred mice Lipids 36(10), 1135-1140 (2001).
[2]. Gilat, T., Leikin-Frenkel, A., Goldiner, I., et al. Prevention of diet-induced fatty liver in experimental animals by the oral administration of a fatty acid bile acid conjugate (FABAC) Hepatology 38(2), 436-442 (2003).
[3]. Safadi, R., Konikoff, F.M., Mahamid, M., et al. The fatty acid-bile acid conjugate Aramchol reduces liver fat content in patients with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease Clin. Gastroenterol. Hepatol. 12(12), 2085-2091 (2014).