Advances in Pharmacological Activities, Biosynthesis, and Structural Modification of Ursodeoxycholic Acid (UDCA): A Review.

UDCA is a natural steroid in bear bile, which has important medicinal value. It is used to treat hepatobiliary diseases in clinic. Due to its unique molecular skeleton, UDCA has a wide range of biological activities, special target and low toxicity, and is considered to be a powerful structural mother nucleus, which has attracted more and more researchers' attention and become the focus of attention again. So far, UDCA derivatives with diverse structures have been designed and their biological activities have been extensively studied. In this paper, the pharmacological activities, biosynthesis and structural modification of UDCA were systematically discussed. It is believed that with the deepening of research, more UDCA derivatives with better medicinal properties will become drugs and better serve human health.