Menadione: Role in cancer prevention and methods of analysis

Abstract

Menadione (vitamin K₃) is a water-insoluble vitamin and an analogue of vitamin K. Its use an anti-cancer drug is increasing day by day. It produces its anti-tumor effect without causing any harm to the normal cells. Various methods have been developed for the analysis of menadione in pure form, pharmaceutical products and biological fluids which includes spectrophotometry, chromatography, potentiometry, colorimetry, electrochemical, chemiluminescenes and polarographic methods. Of all the methods HPLC methods have been found to give more reliable and sensitive results. Fluorimetric methods are more promising as compared to the spectrophotometric methods for the assay of menadione. Certain polarographic methods have been found to give better results for the biological fluids. Chemiluminescence methods can be used for the assay of the vitamin without facing any interference.