Vitamin B6, or pyridoxine, is a water-soluble vitamin essential for amino acid metabolism, neurological function, and the synthesis of neurotransmitters. It is found in various foods such as whole grains, poultry, and legumes, with deficiencies leading to serious neurological and hematological symptoms. Supplementation may be necessary for certain populations, including the elderly and alcoholics, but excessive intake can cause adverse neurological effects.

1. Prof. Ravisankar
Vignan Pharmacy college
Valdlamudi
Guntur Dist.
Andhra Pradesh
India.
banuman35@gmail.com
00919059994000

2. Vitamin B 6 is a water-soluble vitamin present in three major chemical
forms:
pyridoxine, pyridoxal,pyridoxamine
These three are interconvertible in their phosphorylated form.
It is also called Adermin,because it is used as an antidermatitic factor
(acrodynia factor )for rats.
The plant sources mainly contain pyridoxal,pyridoxamine and animal
sources contain Pyridoxine.
Active form is pyridoxal phosphate
It is essential coenzyme for trans amination and decarboxylation of
amino acids.
N
CH2OH
CH2OHHO
H3C
PYRIDOXINE
N
CHO
CH2OHHO
H3C N
CH2NH2
CH2OHHO
H3C
PYRIDOXAMINEPYRIXOXAL
Collectively, pyridoxine, pyridoxal and pyridoxamine are known as vitamin B6.
(Pyridoxol)
[2-methyl-3-hydroxy-4-5
di(hydroxymethyl)-Pyridine]
1
2
3 4 5
6

3. Chick peas
Wholegrain breads and cereals are rich in Vitamin B6
Wholegrain breads and cereals are rich
in Vitamin B6
Sweet potatoes

4. The best source of vitamin B6 is through the foods you eat. Foods rich in vitamin B6 include:
Avocado (raw),Baked potato (flesh and skin)
Fortified cereals, beans, Lima beans,Peanut butter ,Poultry ,Spinach, Soybeans, Sunflower
seeds Tomato juice, Walnuts
bananas
beef
Brewer's Yeast
brown rice husks
cabbage
dried fruits
eggs
fish, fatty, whitefish
green leafy vegetables
maize
meats
milk
nuts, oats
organ meats, especially pig liver
potatoes
pulses, such as lentils
root vegetables
soy products, peppers
wheat bran
wheat germ
whole grain
•

5. Deficiency leads to
In humans vitaminB6 deficiency leads to neurological symptoms like
depression,irritability,nervousness,mental confusion.
Dermatitis in rats and other animals due to pyridoxosis.
Anemia
confusion
convulsions( due to decreased synthesis of serotonin,GABA,catacholamines)
Depression
Sore tongue,defective sexual behaviour,decreased heam synthesis.
Since most of us easily get enough B6 in our diets, then who should take B6
supplements? :
Alcoholics (Alcohol also helps to deplete B6 from the body)
Asthmatic children who take theophylline because it too depletes stores of B6 from the
body
Elderly.
General guidelines recommend keeping your B6 intake to less than 100 mg
daily. This includes B6 from both dietary sources as well as supplements.
However, as we age, our need for vitamin B6 increases, and 1.9 mg is the RDA
for pregnant women, and it goes up to 2.0 mg for lactating women.

6. •pyridoxine is stable in acid solution, but unstable in neutral or
alkaline solutions (destroyed by light).
N
N
NH-NH2
Hydralazine (antihypertensive)
N
C
O NH
NH2
isoniazid (antitubercular)
O
N
OH2N
H
cycloserine (antitubercular)
CC
CH3 H
COOHHS
CH3 NH2
penicillamine (antirheumatic; Wilson's disease)
Pyridoxine antagonists.
increasing renal excretion of pyridoxine; recommended intakes for pyridoxine
may be increased in patients receiving these medications
The taking of certain drugs (as isoniazid, hydrolazine, penicillamine) that
inactivate the vitamin.

7. Levodopa (concurrent use with pyridoxine is not recommended since
levodopa's antiparkinsonian effects are reversed by as little as 5 mg of
pyridoxine orally; this problem does not occur with the carbidopa-levodopa
combination.
Pyridoxine (vitamin B 6) has been found to reduce the effects of levodopa
when levodopa is taken by itself.
Metabolism
Metabolized in the liver and converted to 4-pyridoxic acid metabolite.
Elimination
Excreted mostly as 4-pyridoxic acid in the urine. The t ½ is 15 to 20 days.
Parenteral use is indicated when oral therapy is not feasible.
Parenteral use is indicated when oral therapy is not feasible.
Vitamin B6 is usually safe, at intakes up to 200 mg per day in adults.
However, vitamin B6 can cause neurological disorders, such as loss of
sensation in legs and imbalance, when taken in high doses (200 mg or
more per day) over a long period of time

8. Physiological importance:
Physiologically active form of vitamin B6 is pyridoxal-5-phosphate.It acts as
coenzyme for the enzymes that are involved in the biosynthesis of niacin,
coenzyme A and haemoglobin.
It is also involved in reactions like transamination,amino acid
decorboxylation,desulphuration and metabolism of unsaturated fatty acids.
Pyridoxal-5-phosphate also acts as coenzyme in the formation of serotonin
from tryptophan,cystine from methionine.
vitamin B6 function as co-carboxylase in the decarboxylation of dopa to
dopamine.
essential for protein metabolism
essential for the formation of hemoglobin, the pigment in the blood that carries
oxygen around the body.
essential for utilization of proteins and fats
helps in normal function of nervous system
is needed also by certain bacteria
necessary for production of red blood cells and antibodies which fight disease
needed for many body functions

9. Decarboxylation of amino acids
Transaminase reactions
Racemization reactions
Aldol cleavage reactions
Transulfuration reactions
Conversion of tryptophan to niacin
Conversion of linoleic acid into arachidonic acid (prostaglandin
precursor)
Formation of sphingolipids
SERINE ETHANOLAMINE ACETYLCHOLINE
TYROSINE DOPA DOPAMINE EPINEPHRINE
TRYPTOPHAN 5-HT SEROTONIN
HISTIDINE HISTAMINE
GLUTAMIC ACID GAMMA AMINOBUTYRIC ACID (GABA)
CYSTEINE CYSTEINE SULFINIC ACID TAURINE
- CO2
- CO2
- CO2
- CO2
- CO2
- CO2
(Decarboxylation)
Serine
-NH3
+ H20
Pyruvic acid (Elimination)

10. L-Glutamin acid
Glutamin acid racemase
D-Glutamic acid.
L-DOPA L-DOPA L-dopamine
L-dopamine
CO2
Brain
B6 stimulates
this reaction outside
of the brain
use carbidopa: an inhibitor of DOPA decarboxylase
in combination with DOPA: Sinemet 10/100 or Sinemet 25/250
Pyridoxine can antagonize the antiparkinsonian use of
L-DOPA

11. N
HO
H3C
CH2OH
CH2OH
pyridoxine
N
HO
H3C
CH2OH
CHO
N
HO
H3C
CH2OH
CH2-NH2
pyridoxal pyridoxamine
N
HO
H3C
CHO
CH2 O P
O
OH
OH
N
HO
H3C
CH2-NH2
CH2 O P
O
OH
OH
pyridoxal phosphate pyridoxamine phosphate
N
HO
H3C
CH2OH
COOH
pyridoxic acid
Acetic anhydride
NH3- CH3OHKmno4
Phosphorylation
and oxidation
to the aldehyde.

12. Synthesis of Pyridoxal and pyridoxamine.

13. vitamin B6 will help maintain the natural colour in your hair -- and ward off
graying.
VITAMIN B6 IS USED FOR
nerve disorder
red blood formation
body immunity
hand numbness
metabolism of protein and fat
kidney stones
anemia
asthma
convulsions
depression
mental retardation
premenstrual syndrome(headache,depression,irritability,weight gain)
urticaria
It is used to treat or prevent the deficiency of vitaminB6 deficiency.
It is also given in combination with isoniazid and cylcoserine to reduce
their toxicity.
It is also used in the treatment of sideroblastic anaemia.
Treatment of Hydrazine and isoniazid poisoning.

14. Vitamin B6 is indicated for the treatment of sideroblast anemia, neurologic
disturbances, seborrhoeic dermatitis, and cheilosis. In combination with
folic acid and vitamin B12, vitamin B6 lowers homocysteine levels which is
an amino acid linked to heart disease and stroke, and possibly other
diseases as well, such as osteoporosis, and Alzheimer's disease.
Pyridoxine is required for the balancing of hormonal changes in women as
well as assisting the immune system and the growth of new cells. Vitamin
B6 may be helpful in some women with premenstrual dysphoric disorder,
also known as premenstrual syndrome (PMS), and may be useful in some
cases of gestational diabetes and for protection against metabolic
imbalances associated with the use of some oral contraceptives. Vitamin
B6 promotes iron excretion and this has been used as a rationale for
treatment in iron storage diseases