Medicinal Chemistry of Vitamin K Derivatives and Metabolites

Abstract

Vitamin K acts as a cofactor for γ-glutamyl carboxylase. Recently, various biol. activities of vitamin K have been reported. Anti-proliferative activities of vitamin K, especially in vitamin K3, are well known. In addition, various physiol. and pharmacol. functions of vitamin K2, such as transcription modulators as nuclear steroid and xenobiotic receptor (SXR) ligands and anti-inflammatory effects, have been revealed in the past decade. Characterization of vitamin K metabolites is also important for clin. application of vitamin K and its derivatives In this chapter, recent progress on the medicinal chem. of vitamin K derivatives and metabolites is discussed.