Folinats

Folinats is a term that can refer to several related chemical compounds, primarily derivatives of folic acid (vitamin B9). The most common form is leucovorin, also known as folinic acid or calcium folinate. Leucovorin is a metabolically active form of folic acid and is used in medicine primarily as an antidote to folate antagonists like methotrexate. It works by bypassing the metabolic step that methotrexate inhibits, thereby "rescuing" cells, particularly bone marrow and gastrointestinal cells, from the toxic effects of the drug. This process is known as leucovorin rescue.

Beyond its use in chemotherapy, folinats, particularly leucovorin, is also employed in the treatment of certain types of anemia, such as megaloblastic anemia, when folic acid deficiency is suspected or confirmed. It is administered orally or intravenously depending on the clinical situation. The exact mechanism involves its conversion to tetrahydrofolate (THF), a crucial cofactor in various one-carbon transfer reactions essential for DNA synthesis and repair.

Other less common compounds that might be referred to as folinats are related to the folate cycle and its metabolic pathways. However, in clinical and biochemical contexts, folinic acid (leucovorin) is the most frequently encountered substance associated with this term. Its importance lies in its ability to restore normal folate metabolism in situations where it has been disrupted by drugs or deficiencies.