Growth factor for many bacteria and protozoa; prosthetic group, coenzyme, or substrate in plants, microorganisms, and animal tissues. Isoln of naturally occurring d-form: L. J. Reed et al., Science 114, 93 (1951); eidem, J. Am. Chem. Soc. 75, 1267 (1953); Patterson et al., ibid. 76, 1823 (1954). Syntheses of dl-form: Bullock et al., ibid. 74, 1868, 3455 (1952); Hornberger et al., ibid. 2382; Reed, US 2980716 and US 3049549 (1961, 1962 to Res. Corp.); Lewis, Raphael, J. Chem. Soc. 1962, 4263; Ose et al., US 3223712 (1965 to Yamanouchi); J. Tsuji et al., J. Org. Chem. 43, 3606 (1978). Biosynthesis via linoleic acid: J. P. Carreau Methods Enzymol. 62, 152-158 (1974). Enantioselective synthesis of d-form: P. C. Bulmanpage et al., Chem. Commun. 1986, 1408. Clinical study in treatment of Wilson's disease: S. F. Gomes da Costa, Arzneim.-Forsch. 20, 1210 (1970). Use in treatment of mushroom poisoning: R. Plotzker et al., Am. J. Med. Sci. 283, 79 (1982); J. P. Hanrahan, M. A. Gordon, J. Am. Med. Assoc. 251, 1057 (1984). Reviews: Wagner, Folkers, Vitamins and Coenzymes (Interscience, New York, 1964) pp 244-263; Schmidt et al., Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 4, 846 (1965); Schmidt et al., Adv. Enzymol. Relat. Areas Mol. Biol. 32, 423 (1969).
Treatment of liver disease; antidote to poisonous mushrooms (Amanita species).
Hepatoprotectant