Vitamin K1 (Phylloquinone) HPLC

Vitamin K1
is a derivative of 2-methyl-1, 4-naphtochinone and is found in green plants. Vitamin
K1
is insoluble in water and readily soluble in ether, n-hexane and chloroform.
It`s an essential co-factor in the posttranslational carboxylation reaction of glutamic acid
residues (GLU) to g-carboxyglutamic acid residues (GLA) in a number of blood clotting factors
and also in some other proteins e.g. osteocalcin. The adjacent carboxyl groups of the GLAresidues
provide the Vitamin K dependent proteins with characteristic calcium- and
phospholipid-binding properties that are essential for their activation and function. A
decrease in Vitamin K1
is reported in osteoporotic patients. Other clinical symptoms of
Vitamin K1
deficiency are clotting disorders, which manifest themselves as bleeding in the
skin, in the mucous membranes, in muscles and in internal organs. Symptoms of deficiencies
normally appear within few days. Vitamin K1
is rapidly metabolized and only minor amounts
are stored in the organism.