What is dicoumarol? How does this substance act in the clotting process and what are some examples of its toxicity?
Dicoumarol is an anticoagulant drug. Due to its molecular structure dicoumarol competes with vitamin K for the binding to substrates blocking the formation of clotting factors and interrupting the making of prothrombin. Dicoumarol is found in some vegetables undergoing decomposition, and it can cause severe internal hemorrhages when those vegetables are accidentally ingested. Coumarinic anticoagulants cannot be administered during pregnancy since they pass the placental barrier and can cause fetal hemorrhages.
