Vitamin K3, Menadione

Vitamin K3, Menadione

IUPAC name: 2-Methylnaphthalene-1,4-dione
CAS number: 58-27-5
Other names: Menaphthone;Vitamin K3; β-Methyl-1,4-naphthoquinone; 2-Methyl-1,4-naphthodione;2-Methyl-1,4-naphthoquinone;Menadione (1.05793);Vitamin K2(0); Menadione; Vitamin K_3;2-Methyl-1,4-dihydronaphthalene-1,4-dione
Molecular formula: C11H8O2
Molar mass: 172.18 g mol−1
Appearance: white power
Density: 1.225g/cm3
Melting point: 105–107 °C
Boiling point: 304.5 °C at760mmHg
Solubility in water: Insoluble
Flash point: 113.8 °C

Vitamin K is a group ofstructurally similar vitamins. It is fat soluble and plays a critical role inblood clotting. It regulates blood calcium levels and activates at least 3proteins involved in bone health. Menadione is a synthetic chemical compound sometimes used as a nutritional supplementbecause of its vitamin K activity. Low dose menadione is used as an inexpensive micronutrientfor livestock. Forms of menadione are also included in some pet foods as a source of vitamin K. It is used in thetreatment of Hypoprothrombinemia.

Vitamin K is an essential fat-soluble micronutrient, which is needed for aunique post-translational chemical modification in a small group of proteinswith calcium-binding properties. Thus far, the unequivocal role of vitamin K inhealth is in the maintenance of normal coagulation. The vitamin Kdependent coagulation proteinsare synthesized in the liver and comprise factors II, VII, IX, and X, whichhave a haemostatic role (i.e. they are procoagulants that arrest and prevent bleeding), and proteins C and S, which have ananticoagulant role (i.e. they inhibit the clotting process). Despite thisduality of function, the overriding effect of nutritional vitamin K deficiencyis a bleeding tendency caused by the relative inactivity of the procoagulant proteins. VitaminK-dependent proteins synthesized by other tissues include the bone protein osteocalcin and matrix Gla protein, though theirfunctions remain to be clarified.

Vitamin K should be stored in cool,ventilated place where it can be kept from water as well as light. Keep it inoriginal package. Please use it in 12 months.