hymecromone

Hymecromone is a coumarin derivative used primarily as a choleretic and biliary antispasmodic agent. It acts by stimulating the production and secretion of bile while exerting a selective spasmolytic effect on the Sphincter of Oddi and the bile ducts, thereby facilitating bile flow into the duodenum and relieving biliary colic. Beyond its clinical use in treating biliary dyskinesia and cholelithiasis, hymecromone is widely utilized in biochemical research as 4-methylumbelliferone (4-MU), where it serves as a potent inhibitor of hyaluronan synthesis. It achieves this by depleting the cellular pool of UDP-glucuronic acid and downregulating hyaluronan synthase 2 (HAS2). This research application has led to investigations into its potential anti-tumor, anti-fibrotic, and anti-inflammatory properties in various preclinical models.

Brand names

CantabilinCholestilMendiaxonCrodimylImechromoneMedillaOmega

Other names

7-hydroxy-4-methylcoumarin4-methylumbelliferone羟甲香豆素