Glycoursodeoxycholic acid

Glycoursodeoxycholic acid (GUDCA) is a glycine-conjugated form of the secondary bile acid ursodeoxycholic acid. It displays antioxidant effects in vitro in Barrett’s esophagus cells and primary cultured rat neurons. GUDCA reduces the levels of inflammatory cytokines and prevents cell death induced by unconjugated bilirubin in an astroglial cell model of neonatal hyperbilirubinemia. It also reduces matrix metalloproteinase-9 and caspase-9 activation in a cellular model of superoxide dismutase-1 neurodegeneration.