ContaminantDB: Folic acid

Identification Taxonomy Biological Properties Physical Properties Toxicity Profile Spectra Concentrations Links References Targets (8)XML

Record Information

Version

1.0

Creation Date

2009-07-21 20:26:10 UTC

Update Date

2026-03-27 01:22:50 UTC

Accession Number

CHEM002130

Identification

Common Name

Folic acid

Class

Small Molecule

Description

Folic acid is a member of the vitamin B family that stimulates the hematopoietic system. It is present in the liver and kidney and is found in mushrooms, spinach, yeast, green leaves, and grasses (poaceae). Folic acid, being biochemically inactive, is converted to tetrahydrofolic acid and methyltetrahydrofolate by dihydrofolate reductase. These folic acid congeners are transported across cells by receptor-mediated endocytosis where they are needed to maintain normal erythropoiesis, synthesize purine and thymidylate nucleic acids, interconvert amino acids, methylated tRNA, and generate and use formate. Folic acid is used in the treatment and prevention of folate deficiencies and megaloblastic anemia.

Contaminant Sources

Cosmetic Chemicals
EAFUS Chemicals
FooDB Chemicals
HMDB Contaminants - Urine
STOFF IDENT Compounds
T3DB toxins
ToxCast & Tox21 Chemicals

Contaminant Type

Amide
Amine
Dietary Supplement
Drug
Ester
Food Toxin
Fungal Toxin
Hematinic
Household Toxin
Metabolite
Micronutrient
Natural Compound
Nutraceutical
Organic Compound
Supplement
Vitamin B Complex

Chemical Structure

MOL SDF PDB SMILES InChI

Synonyms

Value	Source
Folate	ChEBI
Folsaeure	ChEBI
N-[(4-{[(2-amino-4-oxo-1,4-dihydropteridin-6-yl)methyl]amino}phenyl)carbonyl]-L-glutamic acid	ChEBI
N-Pteroyl-L-glutamic acid	ChEBI
PGA	ChEBI
PteGlu	ChEBI
Pteroyl-L-glutamic acid	ChEBI
Pteroyl-L-monoglutamic acid	ChEBI
Pteroylglutamic acid	ChEBI
Vitamin BC	ChEBI
Vitamin m	ChEBI
Folicet	Kegg
N-[(4-{[(2-amino-4-oxo-1,4-dihydropteridin-6-yl)methyl]amino}phenyl)carbonyl]-L-glutamate	Generator
N-Pteroyl-L-glutamate	Generator
Pteroyl-L-glutamate	Generator
Pteroyl-L-monoglutamate	Generator
Pteroylglutamate	Generator
Acifolic	HMDB
Cytofol	HMDB
Dosfolat b activ	HMDB
Folacid	HMDB
Folacin	HMDB
Folbal	HMDB
Folcidin	HMDB
Foldine	HMDB
Folettes	HMDB
Foliamin	HMDB
Folipac	HMDB
Folsan	HMDB
Folsaure	HMDB
Folsav	HMDB
Folvite	HMDB
Incafolic	HMDB
Liver lactobacillus casei factor	HMDB
Millafol	HMDB
N-(4-{[(2-amino-4-oxo-3,4-dihydropteridin-6-yl)methyl]amino}benzoyl)-L-glutamic acid	HMDB
N-[4-[[(2-Amino-3,4-dihydro-4-oxo-6-pteridinyl)methyl]amino]benzoyl]-L-glutamic acid	HMDB
Pteroylmonoglutamic acid	HMDB
Vitamin be	HMDB
Folic acid, (DL)-isomer	HMDB
Folic acid, sodium salt	HMDB
Folic acid, (D)-isomer	HMDB
Folic acid, monosodium salt	HMDB
Folic acid, potassium salt	HMDB
b9, Vitamin	HMDB
Folic acid, calcium salt (1:1)	HMDB
Folic acid, monopotassium salt	HMDB
Vitamin b9	HMDB

Chemical Formula

C₁₉H₁₉N₇O₆

Average Molecular Mass

441.398 g/mol

Monoisotopic Mass

441.140 g/mol

CAS Registry Number

59-30-3

IUPAC Name

(2S)-2-[(4-{[(2-amino-4-oxo-1,4-dihydropteridin-6-yl)methyl]amino}phenyl)formamido]pentanedioic acid

Traditional Name

folate

SMILES

NC1=NC(=O)C2=NC(CNC3=CC=C(C=C3)C(=O)N[C@@H](CCC(O)=O)C(O)=O)=CN=C2N1

InChI Identifier

InChI=1S/C19H19N7O6/c20-19-25-15-14(17(30)26-19)23-11(8-22-15)7-21-10-3-1-9(2-4-10)16(29)24-12(18(31)32)5-6-13(27)28/h1-4,8,12,21H,5-7H2,(H,24,29)(H,27,28)(H,31,32)(H3,20,22,25,26,30)/t12-/m0/s1

InChI Key

OVBPIULPVIDEAO-LBPRGKRZSA-N

Chemical Taxonomy

Description

belongs to the class of organic compounds known as methoxyphenols. Methoxyphenols are compounds containing a methoxy group attached to the benzene ring of a phenol moiety.

Kingdom

Super Class

Class

Sub Class

Direct Parent

Alternative Parents

Substituents

Methoxyphenol
Phenoxy compound
Anisole
Methoxybenzene
Phenol ether
1-hydroxy-2-unsubstituted benzenoid
Alkyl aryl ether
Monocyclic benzene moiety
Carboxylic acid derivative
Monocarboxylic acid or derivatives
Ether
Carboxylic acid
Organic oxygen compound
Organooxygen compound
Carbonyl group
Hydrocarbon derivative
Organic oxide
Aromatic homomonocyclic compound

Molecular Framework

Aromatic homomonocyclic compounds

External Descriptors

monocarboxylic acid (CHEBI:545959 )
phenols (CHEBI:545959 )
monomethoxybenzene (CHEBI:545959 )

Biological Properties

Status

Detected and Not Quantified

Origin

Endogenous

Cellular Locations

Cytoplasm
Extracellular

Biofluid Locations

Not Available

Tissue Locations

Brain
Erythrocyte
Kidney
Liver

Pathways

Name	SMPDB Link	KEGG Link
Folate Metabolism	SMP00053	map00670
Pterine Biosynthesis	SMP00005	map00790

Applications

B vitamin

Biological Roles

Chemical Roles

Not Available

Physical Properties

State

Solid

Appearance

White powder.

Experimental Properties

Property	Value
Melting Point	250 dec°C
Boiling Point	Not Available
Solubility	1.6 mg/L (at 25°C)

Predicted Properties

Property	Value	Source
Water Solubility	0.076 g/L	ALOGPS
logP	-0.04	ALOGPS
logP	-0.68	ChemAxon
logS	-3.8	ALOGPS
pKa (Strongest Acidic)	3.37	ChemAxon
pKa (Strongest Basic)	2.09	ChemAxon
Physiological Charge	-2	ChemAxon
Hydrogen Acceptor Count	12	ChemAxon
Hydrogen Donor Count	6	ChemAxon
Polar Surface Area	208.99 Å²	ChemAxon
Rotatable Bond Count	9	ChemAxon
Refractivity	111.01 m³·mol⁻¹	ChemAxon
Polarizability	42.06 Å³	ChemAxon
Number of Rings	3	ChemAxon
Bioavailability	0	ChemAxon
Rule of Five	No	ChemAxon
Ghose Filter	No	ChemAxon
Veber's Rule	No	ChemAxon
MDDR-like Rule	Yes	ChemAxon

Spectra

Spectrum Type	Description	Splash Key	View
Predicted GC-MS	Predicted GC-MS Spectrum - GC-MS (Non-derivatized) - 70eV, Positive	splash10-0002-2249100000-5ad16461f6638538ea08	Spectrum
Predicted GC-MS	Predicted GC-MS Spectrum - GC-MS (2 TMS) - 70eV, Positive	splash10-00xr-4205390000-4152e24c68306bfe6554	Spectrum
Predicted GC-MS	Predicted GC-MS Spectrum - GC-MS (Non-derivatized) - 70eV, Positive	Not Available	Spectrum
Predicted GC-MS	Predicted GC-MS Spectrum - GC-MS (TMS_1_1) - 70eV, Positive	Not Available	Spectrum
Predicted GC-MS	Predicted GC-MS Spectrum - GC-MS (TMS_1_2) - 70eV, Positive	Not Available	Spectrum
Predicted GC-MS	Predicted GC-MS Spectrum - GC-MS (TMS_1_3) - 70eV, Positive	Not Available	Spectrum
Predicted GC-MS	Predicted GC-MS Spectrum - GC-MS (TMS_1_4) - 70eV, Positive	Not Available	Spectrum
Predicted GC-MS	Predicted GC-MS Spectrum - GC-MS (TMS_1_5) - 70eV, Positive	Not Available	Spectrum
Predicted GC-MS	Predicted GC-MS Spectrum - GC-MS (TMS_1_6) - 70eV, Positive	Not Available	Spectrum
Predicted GC-MS	Predicted GC-MS Spectrum - GC-MS (TMS_2_2) - 70eV, Positive	Not Available	Spectrum
Predicted GC-MS	Predicted GC-MS Spectrum - GC-MS (TMS_2_3) - 70eV, Positive	Not Available	Spectrum
Predicted GC-MS	Predicted GC-MS Spectrum - GC-MS (TMS_2_4) - 70eV, Positive	Not Available	Spectrum
Predicted GC-MS	Predicted GC-MS Spectrum - GC-MS (TMS_2_5) - 70eV, Positive	Not Available	Spectrum
Predicted GC-MS	Predicted GC-MS Spectrum - GC-MS (TMS_2_6) - 70eV, Positive	Not Available	Spectrum
Predicted GC-MS	Predicted GC-MS Spectrum - GC-MS (TMS_2_7) - 70eV, Positive	Not Available	Spectrum
Predicted GC-MS	Predicted GC-MS Spectrum - GC-MS (TMS_2_8) - 70eV, Positive	Not Available	Spectrum
Predicted GC-MS	Predicted GC-MS Spectrum - GC-MS (TMS_2_9) - 70eV, Positive	Not Available	Spectrum
Predicted GC-MS	Predicted GC-MS Spectrum - GC-MS (TMS_2_10) - 70eV, Positive	Not Available	Spectrum
Predicted GC-MS	Predicted GC-MS Spectrum - GC-MS (TMS_2_11) - 70eV, Positive	Not Available	Spectrum
Predicted GC-MS	Predicted GC-MS Spectrum - GC-MS (TMS_2_12) - 70eV, Positive	Not Available	Spectrum
Predicted GC-MS	Predicted GC-MS Spectrum - GC-MS (TMS_2_13) - 70eV, Positive	Not Available	Spectrum
Predicted GC-MS	Predicted GC-MS Spectrum - GC-MS (TMS_2_14) - 70eV, Positive	Not Available	Spectrum
Predicted GC-MS	Predicted GC-MS Spectrum - GC-MS (TMS_2_15) - 70eV, Positive	Not Available	Spectrum
Predicted GC-MS	Predicted GC-MS Spectrum - GC-MS (TMS_2_16) - 70eV, Positive	Not Available	Spectrum
Predicted GC-MS	Predicted GC-MS Spectrum - GC-MS (TBDMS_1_1) - 70eV, Positive	Not Available	Spectrum
LC-MS/MS	LC-MS/MS Spectrum - Quattro_QQQ 10V, Positive (Annotated)	splash10-0006-0000900000-4208ea3c2f5d9026c19f	Spectrum
LC-MS/MS	LC-MS/MS Spectrum - Quattro_QQQ 25V, Positive (Annotated)	splash10-0006-0050900000-2c8ad037dc3b270765c4	Spectrum
LC-MS/MS	LC-MS/MS Spectrum - Quattro_QQQ 40V, Positive (Annotated)	splash10-0007-0090300000-ebdec84cbb7fe5afbc0b	Spectrum
LC-MS/MS	LC-MS/MS Spectrum - LC-ESI-QTOF (UPLC Q-Tof Premier, Waters) , Negative	splash10-0007-0903600000-e5d91e4f2ab79d130b76	Spectrum
LC-MS/MS	LC-MS/MS Spectrum - LC-ESI-qTof , Positive	splash10-002b-0960000000-108d96993dc78f1e4b61	Spectrum
LC-MS/MS	LC-MS/MS Spectrum - LC-ESI-QTOF , negative	splash10-0007-0903600000-e5d91e4f2ab79d130b76	Spectrum
LC-MS/MS	LC-MS/MS Spectrum - , positive	splash10-002b-0960000000-108d96993dc78f1e4b61	Spectrum
LC-MS/MS	LC-MS/MS Spectrum - 10V, Positive	splash10-0002-0090000000-9e9a33bc590d0f801929	Spectrum
LC-MS/MS	LC-MS/MS Spectrum - 30V, Positive	splash10-0aba-6940000000-f0b6076af9cb59413656	Spectrum
LC-MS/MS	LC-MS/MS Spectrum - 0V, Positive	splash10-0005-0090600010-5ef6e95b870cc0ebfeb8	Spectrum
LC-MS/MS	LC-MS/MS Spectrum - 20V, Positive	splash10-0002-0190000000-2d1f624dc1d2d929527f	Spectrum
LC-MS/MS	LC-MS/MS Spectrum - 90V, Negative	splash10-015c-9700000000-5a0aeec6b1c2bfddfdf1	Spectrum
LC-MS/MS	LC-MS/MS Spectrum - 10V, Positive	splash10-0002-0090000000-b750c262ac740994e33a	Spectrum
LC-MS/MS	LC-MS/MS Spectrum - 0V, Positive	splash10-0005-0090600000-c0e3753ba3591c41d1db	Spectrum
LC-MS/MS	LC-MS/MS Spectrum - 75V, Negative	splash10-001i-3900000000-4d5187e4336ce6be5eb7	Spectrum
LC-MS/MS	LC-MS/MS Spectrum - 40V, Positive	splash10-00b9-0910000000-b3bc3e8ccbba45c85e78	Spectrum
LC-MS/MS	LC-MS/MS Spectrum - 10V, Positive	splash10-0002-0090000010-2c53d9aa251e75638183	Spectrum
LC-MS/MS	LC-MS/MS Spectrum - 10V, Negative	splash10-0006-0000900000-7370828adb963cbb9246	Spectrum
LC-MS/MS	LC-MS/MS Spectrum - 20V, Negative	splash10-0006-0000900000-3b979cd5ecd30ae0d2bf	Spectrum
Predicted LC-MS/MS	Predicted LC-MS/MS Spectrum - 10V, Positive	splash10-00bd-0544900000-aa9a130e2cf3dacfb954	Spectrum
Predicted LC-MS/MS	Predicted LC-MS/MS Spectrum - 20V, Positive	splash10-004j-0954100000-7be7eac442233b5d3bcf	Spectrum
Predicted LC-MS/MS	Predicted LC-MS/MS Spectrum - 40V, Positive	splash10-004i-1960000000-1950169762886f41b6ec	Spectrum
Predicted LC-MS/MS	Predicted LC-MS/MS Spectrum - 10V, Negative	splash10-0006-0114900000-bff7f5f3d20dcd6a4494	Spectrum
Predicted LC-MS/MS	Predicted LC-MS/MS Spectrum - 20V, Negative	splash10-00r7-1249300000-e322ba8675bb922877a9	Spectrum
Predicted LC-MS/MS	Predicted LC-MS/MS Spectrum - 40V, Negative	splash10-0006-9652000000-8c87fa7172ed19a7eb27	Spectrum
MS	Mass Spectrum (Electron Ionization)	splash10-0006-9410000000-7cba521e870757539424	Spectrum
1D NMR	1H NMR Spectrum	Not Available	Spectrum
1D NMR	1H NMR Spectrum	Not Available	Spectrum
1D NMR	13C NMR Spectrum	Not Available	Spectrum
1D NMR	1H NMR Spectrum	Not Available	Spectrum
1D NMR	13C NMR Spectrum	Not Available	Spectrum
1D NMR	13C NMR Spectrum	Not Available	Spectrum
1D NMR	1H NMR Spectrum	Not Available	Spectrum
1D NMR	13C NMR Spectrum	Not Available	Spectrum
1D NMR	1H NMR Spectrum	Not Available	Spectrum
1D NMR	13C NMR Spectrum	Not Available	Spectrum
1D NMR	1H NMR Spectrum	Not Available	Spectrum
1D NMR	13C NMR Spectrum	Not Available	Spectrum
1D NMR	1H NMR Spectrum	Not Available	Spectrum
1D NMR	13C NMR Spectrum	Not Available	Spectrum
1D NMR	1H NMR Spectrum	Not Available	Spectrum
1D NMR	13C NMR Spectrum	Not Available	Spectrum
1D NMR	1H NMR Spectrum	Not Available	Spectrum
1D NMR	13C NMR Spectrum	Not Available	Spectrum
1D NMR	1H NMR Spectrum	Not Available	Spectrum
1D NMR	13C NMR Spectrum	Not Available	Spectrum
1D NMR	1H NMR Spectrum	Not Available	Spectrum
1D NMR	13C NMR Spectrum	Not Available	Spectrum
1D NMR	1H NMR Spectrum	Not Available	Spectrum
1D NMR	13C NMR Spectrum	Not Available	Spectrum
1D NMR	1H NMR Spectrum	Not Available	Spectrum
2D NMR	[1H,13C] 2D NMR Spectrum	Not Available	Spectrum

Toxicity Profile

Route of Exposure

Intravenous, Oral

Mechanism of Toxicity

Folic acid, as it is biochemically inactive, is converted to tetrahydrofolic acid and methyltetrahydrofolate by dihydrofolate reductase. These folic acid congeners are transported across cells by receptor-mediated endocytosis where they are needed to maintain normal erythropoiesis, synthesize purine and thymidylate nucleic acids, interconvert amino acids, methylate tRNA, and generate and use formate. Using vitamin B12 as a cofactor, folic acid can normalize high homocysteine levels by remethylation of homocysteine to methionine via methionine synthetase.

Metabolism

Hepatic Route of Elimination: Folic Acid is metabolized in the liver to 7, 8-dihydrofolic acid and eventually to 5,6,7,8-tetrahydrofolic acid with the aid of reduced diphosphopyridine nucleotide (DPNH) and folate reductases. A majority of the metabolic products appeared in the urine after 6 hours; excretion was generally complete within 24 hours. Folic Acid is also excreted in the milk of lactating mothers.

Toxicity Values

LD50: 85 mg/kg (Intraperitoneal, Mouse) (1) LD50: 120 mg/kg (Intravenous, Guinea pig) (1) LD50: 239 mg/kg (Intravenous Mouse) (1) LD50: 500 mg/kg (Intravenous, Rat) (1) LD50: 410 mg/kg (Intravenous, Rabbit) (1)

Lethal Dose

Not Available

Carcinogenicity (IARC Classification)

No indication of carcinogenicity to humans (not listed by IARC).

Uses/Sources

For treatment of folic acid deficiency, megaloblastic anemia and in anemias of nutritional supplements, pregnancy, infancy, or childhood.

Minimum Risk Level

Not Available

Health Effects

Not Available

Symptoms

Not Available

Treatment

Not Available

Concentrations

Not Available

External Links

DrugBank ID

DB00158

HMDB ID

HMDB0000121

FooDB ID

FDB014504

Phenol Explorer ID

Not Available

KNApSAcK ID

BiGG ID

BioCyc ID

METLIN ID

PDB ID

Not Available

Wikipedia Link

Chemspider ID

ChEBI ID

PubChem Compound ID

Kegg Compound ID

YMDB ID

ECMDB ID

References

Synthesis Reference

Carroll G. Temple, Jr., Robert D. Elliott, Jerry D. Rose, John A. Montgomery, “Preparation of tetrahydrofolic acid from folic acid.” U.S. Patent US4206307, issued April, 1956.

MSDS

Link

General References

1. Piper, James R.; McCaleb, George S.; Montgomery, John A. Synthesis of 10-propargylfolic acid from 2-amino-6-(bromomethyl)-4(1H)-pteridinone. Journal of Heterocyclic Chemistry (1987), 24(1), 279-82.

2. Int. Dairy Journal 4 (1994) 161-172

3. NRC. 1989. Recommended Dietary Allowances. 10th ed. Natl. Acad. Press, Washington, DC.

4. Park, Y. W; Juárez, Manuela ; Ramos, M.; Haenlein, G. F. W.. Physico-chemical characteristics of goat and sheep milk. Small Ruminant Res.(2007) 68:88-113 doi: 10.1016/j.smallrumres.2006.09.013

5. A. Foroutan et al. The Chemical Composition of Commercial Cow's Milk (in preparation)

6. USDA Food Composition Databases: https://ndb.nal.usda.gov/ndb/

7. Fooddata+, The Technical University of Denmark (DTU): https://frida.fooddata.dk/QueryFood.php?fn=milk&lang=en

8. Piper, James R.; McCaleb, George S.; Montgomery, John A. Synthesis of 10-propargylfolic acid from 2-amino-6-(bromomethyl)-4(1H)-pteridinone. Journal of Heterocyclic Chemistry (1987), 24(1), 279-82.

9. Kopczynska E, Ziolkowski M, Jendryczka-Mackiewicz E, Odrowaz-Sypniewska G, Opozda K, Tyrakowski T: [The concentrations of homocysteine, folic acid and vitamin B12 in alcohol dependent male patients]. Psychiatr Pol. 2004 Sep-Oct;38(5):947-56.