Structure
Background
Taurohyocholic acid (THCA) is a taurine-conjugated form of the porcine-specific primary bile acid hyocholic acid .1
THCA inhibits precipitation of cholesterol crystals by stabilizing cholesterol in the liquid-crystalline phase.2 It
prevents cholestasis and cellular necrosis induced by taurolithocholic acid in isolated rat livers.3 THCA levels are
increased in the urine of patients with hepatitis B-induced cirrhosis.4
References
1. Wahlstr•m, 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. Juste, C., Catala, I., Henry, R., et al. Influence of bile salt molecular species on cholesterol crystallization from
supersaturated model biles. Biochim. Biophys. Acta. 1254(1), 89-97 (1995).