Glycochenodeoxycholic acid sodium salt

White to off-white powder. Slightly soluble in DMSO, ethanol or methanol (10mg/ml) and in water. Chemical. CAS: 16564-43-5. Formula: C26H42NNaO5. MW: 471.61. Synthetic. Glycochenodeoxycholic acid (GCDCA) is a bile salt formed in the liver that acts as a biosurfactant to solubilize lipids for absorption and is itself absorbed. GCDCA functions as a choleretic, increasing the volume of bile secreted from the liver, and a cholagogue, promoting the discharge of bile from the digestive system. GCDCA has been used to demonstrate a role for bile acids in promoting colorectal carcinogenesis and to inhibit calcium hydroxyapatite precipitation to study the pathogenesis of black pigment gallstones. This product has also been shown to induce apoptosis in isolated hepatocytes via modulation of PKC activity. This compound is used as an anionic detergent to solubilize lipids and as a chiral reagent.