The document provides an overview of Vitamin A, highlighting its importance as a fat-soluble vitamin essential for various bodily functions, including vision and immune support. It covers sources of Vitamin A from both animal and plant origins, its chemical structure, physiological significance, as well as the implications of deficiency and overdose. Additionally, it discusses the history, isolation, and synthesis of Vitamin A, underscoring its critical role in human health.

1. CHEMISTRY OF VITAMIN – A
• Presented By:
• Gandham Malasree
• M Pharmacy
• I year I sem
• Regd no: 620209502002
• Dept of Pharmaceutical Chemistry
AU COLLEGE OF PHARMACEUTICAL SCIENCES, VISAKHAPATNAM

2. CONTENTS
What are vitamins?
Introduction
Sources
History
Isolation
Chemistry of vitamin A
Structural elucidation of vitamin A
Isler synthesis of vitamin A
Physiological significance of vitamin A
Deficiency of vitamin A

3. Essential organic compounds that are required in small amounts for normal
growth, maintenance of good health and for the proper utilization of other
nutrients.
Nutrients that our body does not make on its own. Thus we must obtain them
from the foods we eat, or via vitamin supplements.

4. Introduction
• It is a fat soluble vitamin.
• It is also called retinol or axerophthol.
• Vitamin A is an essential nutrient needed in small amounts for the normal functioning of the
visual system, and maintenance of cell function for growth, epithelial integrity, red blood cell
production, immunity and reproduction.
• Vitamin A deficiency (VAD) is a major nutritional concern in poor societies, especially in lower
income countries like INDIA.

5. Sources
Animal Sources
 Eggs
 Meat
 Cheese
 Milk
 Liver
 Kidney
 Fish liver oils
Plant Sources
• Carrots
• Sweet Potatoes
• Apricots
• Broccoli
• Spinach
• Pumpkin
• Papaya
• Mango

6. History Paul karrer
Lafayette mendel
George wald

7. ISOLATION
Liver oil
Unsaponified fat
Sterols are crystallised
Crude vitamin
Pure vitamin
Crude vitamin Pure vitamin
Alc. KOH
Hydroquinone
MeOH
Cool to -730 C
Fractional
distillation
Adsorb on
alumina
Adsorb on
Ca(OH)2

8. PURE VITAMIN A :
• Pale yellow crystalline solid
• Melting point : 62-640 C
• Thermostable
• Photosensitive to UV rays
• Air oxidizable
 Vitamin A is known for Carr Price reaction

9. Chemistry of vitamin A
Molecular formula: C20H30O
Beta ionine ring
Two isoprene unit part

10. Vitamin A
C20H30O – 5 double bonds & 1 ring
adduct with maleic
anhydride
Acylation reaction i.e.,
mono ester with
benzoyl chloride
Oxidation gives
aldehydes
Geronic acid
5H2
3 carboxylic acid
2 carboxylic acid
Alc.KMnO4

11. Structural elucidation of vitamin A

12. Isler synthesis of vitamin A

13. Synthesis of Grignard reagent

14. Physiological significance of vitamin A
 Physiological functions of vision.
 Development of teeth and bones.
 Proliferation of epithelial cells.
 Essential for producing rhodopsin.
 Vitamin A plays a role in a variety of functions throughout the body, such as:
•Vision
•Gene transcription
•Immune function
•Embryonic development and reproduction
•Bone metabolism
•Haematopoiesis
•Skin and cellular health
•Teeth
•Mucous membrane

15. Vitamin A Deficiency and Diseases
 Nyctalopia (night blindness)
 Xerophthalmia
 Bitot’s spots
 Keratomalacia
 Complete blindness (in severe deficiency)
 Corneal ulcers

16. Vitamin A in overdose can lead to
 Bone disorders
 Gingivitis
 Finally the loss of teeth