A new choleretic effect of folinic acid.
OBJECTIVE
In the chemotherapy of recurrent gastric cancer with 5-fluorouracil and folinic acid, an interesting phenomenon, the reduction of jaundice and improvement of liver function, was observed. The aim of this study was to investigate the mechanism of this phenomenon, and to confirm a choleretic effect of folinic acid.


METHODS
The bile duct of anesthetized rats was catheterized, and bile was collected. Bile volume and total bile acid production following intraperitoneal administration of folinic acid were determined and compared to those of control rats.


RESULTS
Both bile volume and total bile acid production increased following intraabdominal administration of folinic acid.


CONCLUSIONS
Folinic acid has a newly described pharmacologic effect of stimulating bile acid-dependent choleresis. It is possible that folinic acid may become a new drug for the treatment of jaundice or for the improvement of overall liver function.
Kajiyama
Y
Y
Department of Surgery, Toranomon Hospital, Tokyo, Japan.
Tsurumaru
M
M
Udagawa
H
H
Tsutsumi
K
K
Kinoshita
Y
Y
Ueno
M
M
Akiyama
H
H
D000818:Animals; D001646:Bile / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D001647:Bile Acids and Salts / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism; D002756:Cholagogues and Choleretics / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002955:Leucovorin / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008297:Male; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D013237:Stereoisomerism
D001647:Bile Acids and Salts; D002756:Cholagogues and Choleretics; D002955:Leucovorin