title: A useful cholesterol solvent for medical dissolution of gallstones.
abstract: Dissolution of cholesterol gallstones by direct instillation of an agent into the biliary tract has been considered an alternate to surgical procedures. We developed an excellent direct solubilizer by combining d-limonene and medium-chain monoglyceride. This mixture enhances the advantages of each individual solvent and minimizes the disadvantages. In vitro experiments were done to determine the viscosities and the cholesterol dissolving rates of various combinations, and in vivo experiments were conducted to study their irritation effects on tissues. The optimal combination was a 3:2 mixture of d-limonene and medium-chain monoglyceride. It could quickly dissolve cholesterol gallstones with minimal or no observable side effect.
authors.affiliation: Shionogi Research Laboratories, Shionogi & Co., Ltd., Osaka, Japan.
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Igimi
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Watanabe
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Yamamoto
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Asakawa
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Toraishi
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Shimura
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001652:Bile Ducts / Q000187:drug effects; D002769:Cholelithiasis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D053138:Cyclohexenes; D004285:Dogs; D004338:Drug Combinations; D004386:Duodenum / Q000187:drug effects; D005989:Glycerides / Q000627:therapeutic use* / Q000633:toxicity; D007413:Intestinal Mucosa / Q000187:drug effects; D000077222:Limonene; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains; D012995:Solubility; D013729:Terpenes / Q000627:therapeutic use* / Q000633:toxicity; D014783:Viscosity
chemical_list: D053138:Cyclohexenes; D004338:Drug Combinations; D005989:Glycerides; D013729:Terpenes; D000077222:Limonene