Murideoxycholic acid (MDCA) is a secondary bile acid produced from α-muricholic acid and β-muricholic acid.[1] It is also a metabolite of lithocholic acid in liver S9 fractions from humans and other species.[2] MDCA prevents gallstone formation in hamsters fed a lithogenic diet but does not resolve gallstones in prairie dogs fed a high cholesterol diet.[3],[4] Gallstones formed during MDCA administration after a high cholesterol diet are comprised of an insoluble calcium salt of murideoxycholyl taurine.[4] In humans, MDCA is rapidly absorbed and is metabolized as an endogenous bile acid with a half-life of approximately 3.5 days.[5]
Reference:
[1]. Wahlström, A., Sayin, S.I., Marschall, H.-I., et al. Intestinal crosstalk between bile acids and microbiota and its impact on host metabolism. Cell Metab. 24(1), 41-50 (2016).
[2]. Thakare, R., Alamoudi, J.A., Gautam, N., et al. Species differences in bile acids II. Bile acid metabolism. J. Appl. Toxicol. 38(10), 1336-1352 (2018).
[3]. Cohen, B.I., Matoba, N., Mosbach, E.H., et al. Bile acids substituted in the 6 position prevent cholesterol gallstone formation in the hamster. Gastroenterology 98(2), 397-405 (1990).
[4]. Cohen, B.I., Ayyad, N., Mosbach, E.H., et al. Replacement of cholesterol gallstones by murideoxycholyl taurine gallstones in prairie dogs fed murideoxycholic acid. Hepatology 14(1), 158-168 (1991).
[5]. Khallou, J., Legrand-Defretin, V., Parquet, M., et al. Metabolism and time-course excretion of murideoxycholic acid, a 6 β-hydroxylated bile acid, in humans. J. Hepatol. 17(3), 364-372 (1993).