Ursodeoxycholic acid is a bile acid primarily used in the treatment of gallstones, particularly those composed of cholesterol. It works by reducing the amount of cholesterol released by the liver into the bile, helping to dissolve existing stones and prevent the formation of new ones.

It is also prescribed for patients with primary biliary cholangitis, a chronic liver disease, to improve liver function and slow disease progression. Additionally, it is utilized in certain liver disorders to protect liver cells from damage caused by bile acids.

In some cases, it is employed to treat cholestasis of pregnancy, a condition where bile flow from the liver is impaired. Its ability to promote bile flow and reduce bile acid levels makes it effective in managing this condition.

Furthermore, it is sometimes used off-label for other liver-related conditions and as a supportive therapy in certain metabolic disorders. Its safety profile and efficacy make it a valuable option in hepatology and gastroenterology.

As a high-purity analytical reference substance (99.5%), it is widely used in pharmaceutical research, quality control, and analytical laboratories for calibration, method validation, and structural confirmation via techniques such as IR spectroscopy and NMR.