Indoxyl

Indoxyl: an indole derivative produced in the liver

Indoxyl is an indole derivative formed in the liver and excreted in the urine as the potassium or sodium salt of indoxyl sulfuric acid or indoxyl glucuronic acid. This metabolite is commonly used in medical research to evaluate liver function and detect liver abnormalities.

Indole is an organic compound formed during the decomposition of tryptophan, an important amino acid component of proteins. During further metabolism of indole in the liver, it can be converted into indoxyl.

Excessive amounts of indoxyl in the urine may indicate certain diseases, such as cirrhosis of the liver, hepatitis and other disorders of liver function. In addition, the level of indoxyl may increase with impaired renal function, which is also involved in removing the metabolite from the body.

However, determining the level of indoxyl in urine can be useful for monitoring the effectiveness of treatment for certain diseases, such as urolithiasis.

Thus, indoxyl is an important metabolite used in medical research to assess liver function and detect liver dysfunction. Monitoring indoxyl levels may also be useful in the diagnosis and treatment of certain other diseases.