| Description | Cholic acid is manufactured at NZP from bovine bile (also known as "cattle bile" or "ox bile") at NZP in large quantities. Bile is a by-product sourced from government veterinarian-supervised abattoirs. Ovine bile can also be used as it is of a very similar composition.
In nature, cholic acid is produced in the liver from cholesterol. The liver converts cholesterol into the conjugated salts of glycocholic and taurocholic acid which are excreted into the bile and stored in the gallbladder before being discharged into the duodenum after eating. The bile salts emulsify fats and promote digestion. About 90% of the bile salts are reabsorbed by the intestine and pass back to the liver by a process referred to as enterohepatic circulation. Cholic acid is also available as the water soluble sodium salt, sodium cholate. |
| CAS Number | 81-25-4 |
| Formula | C24H40O5 |
| Molecular Weight | 408.57 |
| Use of Chemical | The primary use of cholic acid is as a pharmaceutical intermediate for the production of ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA), an API used for several indications including the treatment and prevention of liver disease and the dissolution of gall stones. |
| Appearance | White powder |
| Solubility | Sparingly soluble in water. Soluble in glacial acetic acid and some organic solvents. |
| EC Number | 201-337-8 |
| MDL Number | MFCD00003672 |
| InChI | BHQCQFFYRZLCQQ-OELDTZBJSA-N |
| UNII | G1JO7801AE |
| Standard Packsize | 25 kg |