Taurocholic acid

Overview
Taurocholic acid, known also as cholaic acid, cholyltaurine, or acidum cholatauricum, is a deliquescent yellowish crystalline bile acid involved in the emulsification of fats. It occurs as a sodium salt in the bile of mammals. It is a conjugate of cholic acid with taurine. Medically it is used as a cholagogue and cholerectic.

Hydrolysis of taurocholic acid yields taurine, a nonessential amino acid.

Commercially, taurocholic acid is manufactured from cattle bile, a byproduct of the meat-processing industry.