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NCI Drug Dictionary

5-hydroxytryptophan
An aromatic amino acid with antidepressant activity. In vivo, 5-hydroxytryptophan (5-HTP) is converted into 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT or serotonin) as well as other neurotransmitters. 5-HTP may exert its antidepressant activity via conversion to serotonin or directly by binding to serotonin (5-HT) receptors within the central nervous system (CNS). Endogenous 5-HTP is produced from the essential amino acid L-tryptophan. Exogenous therapeutic 5-HTP is isolated from the seeds of the African plant Griffonia simplicifolia. Check for active clinical trials or closed clinical trials using this agent. (NCI Thesaurus)

US brand name:Oxitriptan
Abbreviation:5-HTP
Chemical structure name:2-Amino-3-(5-hydroxy-1-H-indol-3-yl)propionic Acid

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