Taurocholic Acid (sodium salt)

Taurocholic Acid (sodium salt) (CAS No.: 145-42-6) is a taurine-conjugated bile acid salt widely used as a biochemical tool in hepatobiliary and gastrointestinal research, representing a physiologically relevant form of cholic acid involved in bile acid metabolism and enterohepatic circulation. As a bioactive molecule, it plays important roles in regulating liver function, bile secretion, and intestinal homeostasis, and has been implicated in signaling pathways associated with vascular endothelial growth factor A (VEGF-A), where it can promote VEGF-A expression and thereby mitigate biliary injury in experimental models such as hepatic artery ligation. In addition to its hepatoprotective and cytomodulatory properties, taurocholic acid sodium exhibits immunoregulatory effects, making it valuable for investigating inflammatory responses, immune cell behavior, and the crosstalk between metabolic and immune pathways. Alterations in its endogenous levels have been associated with gastrointestinal and hepatobiliary disorders, highlighting its relevance as a biomarker in disease-related studies. In vitro and in vivo, its biological activity is typically observed in the micromolar concentration range, although experimental conditions vary depending on the specific model system. Taurocholic acid sodium is commonly employed in cell-based assays, animal models of liver injury, and drug discovery platforms to study bile acid signaling, transporter function, and therapeutic strategies targeting liver and inflammatory diseases.