Repositioning Candidate Details
| Candidate ID: | R1359 |
| Source ID: | DB11256 |
| Source Type: | approved; investigational |
| Compound Type: | small molecule |
| Compound Name: | Levomefolic acid |
| Synonyms: | (6S)-5-methyltetrahydrofolate; (6S)-5-Methyltetrahydrofolic acid; (6S)-5-MTHF; 5-methyl-(6S)-tetrahydrofolic acid; L-5-methyltetrahydrofolate; L-5-MTHF; L-methylfolate; Levomefolate; Levomefolic acid; LMSR; N-[4-[[[(6S)-2-Amino-3,4,5,6,7,8-hexahydro-5-methyl-4-oxo-6-pteridinyl]methyl]amino]benzoyl]-L-glutamic acid |
| Molecular Formula: | C20H25N7O6 |
| SMILES: | CN1[C@@H](CNC2=CC=C(C=C2)C(=O)N[C@@H](CCC(O)=O)C(O)=O)CNC2=C1C(=O)N=C(N)N2 |
| Structure: |
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| DrugBank Description: | Levomefolic acid (INN) is the metabolite of folic acid (Vitamin B9) and it is a predominant active form of folate found in foods and in the blood circulation, accounting for 98% of folates in human plasma . It is transported across the membranes including the blood-brain barrier into various tissues where it plays an essential role in the DNA synthesis, cysteine cycle and regulation of homocysteine, where it methylates homocysteine and forms methionine and tetrahydrofolate (THF). Levomefolate is approved as a food additive and is designated a GRAS (generally regarded as safe) compound . It is available commercially as a crystalline form of the calcium salt (Metafolin(R)), which has the stability required for use as a supplement . Supplementation of levomefolic acid is desired over folic acid due to reduced potential for masking vitamin B12 deficiency symptoms. |
| CAS Number: | 31690-09-2 |
| Molecular Weight: | 459.4558 |
| DrugBank Indication: | For the treatment and prevention of folate deficiency and for use as an antidote against folic acid antagonists. Contained in oral contraceptives to reduce the risk of neural tube defects arising from folic acid deficiency for pregnant women who conceived during use or shortly after the discontinuation of the product. Being studied for use as a treatment for cardiovascular diseases and adjunct therapy for patients undergoing antidepressant pharmacotherapy . |
| DrugBank Pharmacology: | Levomefolic acid is an active metabolite of folic acid and a methyl group donor in one-carbon metabolism reactions. It regulates important cellular functions such as DNA biosynthesis, gene expression regulation, amino acid synthesis and metabolism, and myelin synthesis and repair. As a only form of folate that can cross the blood-brain barrier, it acts as a cofactor in the production of monoamine neurotransmitters such as dopamine, serotonin and norepinephrine . Levomefolic acid is also involved in red blood cell formation . |
| DrugBank MoA: | Levomefolic acid plays a critical role in methylating homocysteines into methionine by acting as a methyl donor in a reaction catalyzed by vitamine B12-dependent methionine synthase. Homocysteine must either be further metabolized via transulfuration to become cysteine, taurine, and glutathione via a B6-dependent process, or re-methylated to become methionine again. Methionine formed from remethylation of homocysteine by levomefolic acid forms the downstream metabolite S-adenosylmethionine (SAMe), which is involved in numerous biochemical methyl donation reactions, including reactions forming monoamine neurotransmitters . Studies suggest that high plasma levels of homocysteine is associated with increased incidences of arterial plaque formation . |
| Targets: | -- |
| Inclusion Criteria: | Indication associated |
| Strategy ID | Strategy | Synonyms | Related Targets | Related Drugs |
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| Diseases ID | DO ID | Disease Name | Definition | Class | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| I02 | 5113 | Nutritional deficiency disease | A nutrition disease that is characterized by deficiency of a nutritional element, such as a vitamin, mineral, carbohydrate, protein, fat, or general energy content. https://medlineplus.gov/malnutrition.html | disease of metabolism/acquired metabolic disease/nutrition disease | Details |