5-Hydroxy-L-tryptophan (C15-1195-981)

General description

5-Hydroxy-L-tryptophan (5-HTP) is naturally found in Griffonia simplicifolia.

Application

5-Hydroxy-L-tryptophan has been used:

• to inject experimental mice for serotonin detection
• as a precursor of 5-hydroxytryptamine and injected in pregnant mice and neonatal rats for vital neutral red staining of lung slices
• as a standard in citrate-acetate buffer for its use in high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) analysis

Biochem/physiol Actions

Hydroxylation of L-tryptophan occurs in the brain during serotonin synthesis. This is a step that controls the production of serotonin and also yields 5-hydroxy-l-tryptophan (5-HTP) as a metabolite. Thus, consumption 5-HTP, increases the serotonin level, which might result in depression, lack of sleep and severe headache.

Immediate precursor of serotonin; L-aromatic amino acid decarboxylase substrate.

Caution

Light sensitive