pharmacology Of Dicumarol

Indication For decreasing blood clotting. Often used along with heparin for treatment of deep vein thrombosis.
Pharmacodynamics Dicumarol is an coumarin-like compound found in sweet clover. It is used as an oral anticoagulant and acts by inhibiting the hepatic synthesis of vitamin K-dependent coagulation factors (prothrombin and factors VII, IX, and X). It is also used in biochemical experiments as an inhibitor of reductases.
Mechanism of action Dicumarol inhibits vitamin K reductase, resulting in depletion of the reduced form of vitamin K (vitamin KH2). As vitamin K is a cofactor for the carboxylation of glutamate residues on the N-terminal regions of vitamin K-dependent proteins, this limits the gamma-carboxylation and subsequent activation of the vitamin K-dependent coagulant proteins. The synthesis of vitamin K-dependent coagulation factors II, VII, IX, and X and anticoagulant proteins C and S is inhibited. Depression of three of the four vitamin K-dependent coagulation factors (factors II, VII, and X) results in decresed prothrombin levels and a decrease in the amount of thrombin generated and bound to fibrin. This reduces the thrombogenicity of clots.
Absorption Not Available
Volume of distribution Not Available
Protein binding Not Available
Metabolism Not Available
Route of elimination Not Available
Half life Not Available
Clearance Not Available
Toxicity LD50=233 mg/kg (orally in mice); LD50=250 mg/kg (orally in rats)

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