Leucovorin Calcium is a drug that is a form of folic acid (vitamin B9). It is primarily used to protect healthy cells from the adverse effects of some chemotherapy medications, such as methotrexate, by providing a source of folate that the body can use.
PRODUCT SPECIFICATIONS | |
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Name of Product | Leucovorin calcium |
IUPAC Name | calcium;(2S)-2-[[4-[(2-amino-5-formyl-4-oxo-3,6,7,8-tetrahydropteridin-6-yl)methylamino]benzoyl]amino]pentanedioate/td> |
Synonyms | Calcium folinate; Folinic acid calcium salt; Lederfoline; Rescuvolin; Wellcovorin; Folidan |
CAS No | 1492-18-8 |
Molecular Formula | C20H21CaN7O7 |
Molecular Weight | 511.5 g/mol |
Pubchem CID | 135403647 |
SR. No | Criteria | Limit/Specification |
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1 | Appearance (Form) | Amorphous or Crystalline Powder |
2 | Appearance (Colour) | White to Faint Yellow |
3 | Solubility | Freely soluble in water Slightly soluble in Methanol |
4 | Melting Point | 300 °C (Decomposes) |
5 | pH (1% aq sol) | 6.5 to 8.0 |
Leucovorin Calcium, a form of active folic acid, bypasses the need for conversion by dihydrofolate reductase. It protects healthy cells from methotrexate toxicity by providing the folate required for DNA synthesis and repair. It improves the efficacy of 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) in cancer treatment by stabilizing the thymidylate synthase complex, which causes cancer cells to die. It also replenishes folate in shortage conditions, promoting proper cell division and DNA synthesis.
Common side effects associated with the use of Leucovorin Calcium are –