Nordeoxycholic acid

Nordeoxycholic acid (CAS No.: 53608-86-9) is a naturally occurring 23-carbon bile acid metabolite derived from norcholic acid and structurally related to deoxycholic acid, representing a minor component within the broader bile acid pool in mammalian systems. As a steroidal metabolite of endogenous origin, it is primarily studied in the context of bile acid metabolism, lipid homeostasis, and liver physiology, with alterations in its levels reported in metabolic disorders such as non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, where hepatic concentrations are reduced under high-fat dietary conditions and sex-dependent differences have been observed in circulation. Although its direct molecular targets are not comprehensively defined, nordeoxycholic acid is generally considered within the functional framework of bile acids that interact with nuclear and membrane-associated receptors, including farnesoid X receptor and G protein-coupled bile acid receptor pathways, thereby potentially influencing lipid metabolism, inflammation, and energy balance. Due to its structural stability and analytical properties, it is widely employed as an internal standard in gas chromatography–mass spectrometry and liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry assays for the accurate quantification of bile acids across biological samples. In research settings, it is used in metabolomic profiling, biomarker discovery, and studies of bile acid dynamics in cell and animal models, with experimental concentrations typically tailored to specific assay requirements, while detailed pharmacological activity data remain limited and are generally inferred from its classification within the bile acid family.