[Studies on tissue compatibility of d-limonene as a dissolving agent of cholesterol gallstones (author's transl)].

A 97% d-limonene preparation was injected as a bolus into the biliary tract of cats. Depending on volume, contact time, and flow direction of the solution, acute or chronic inflammatory damages for varions degrees were found in the hepatobiliary tissues of all animals treated with the d-limonene solution. These observed histopathological changes due to contact with the terpene compound, restrict the value of the d-limonene preparation as described by Igimi et al. for dissolving cholesterol gallstones retained in the human common bile duct.