N-Methyltryptamine
Encyclopedia
N-Methyltryptamine or methyltryptamine, is a member of the tryptamine
chemical class. It is an alkaloid
, probably derived from L-tryptophan
, that has been found in the bark, shoot
s and leaves
of several plant species
, including Virola
, Acacia
, Mimosa
and Desmanthus
often together with the related compound
s N,N-dimethyltryptamine (DMT) and 5-methoxy-N,N-dimethyltryptamine (5-MeO-DMT). It is also synthesized
in the human
body as a metabolic endproduct
of the amino acid
L-tryptophan. It was found to be a natural trace component in urine of both normal and schizophrenic people.
Orally administered NMT appears to produce no psychoactive biologically effects, likely as a result of extensive first-pass metabolism
. However, it may become active upon combination with a MAOA inhibitor
(MAOI).
By vaporization NMT shows activity at 50-100mg, with a duration of 45-70 minutes.
Tryptamine
Tryptamine is a monoamine alkaloid found in plants, fungi, and animals. It is based around the indole ring structure, and is chemically related to the amino acid tryptophan, from which its name is derived...
chemical class. It is an alkaloid
Alkaloid
Alkaloids are a group of naturally occurring chemical compounds that contain mostly basic nitrogen atoms. This group also includes some related compounds with neutral and even weakly acidic properties. Also some synthetic compounds of similar structure are attributed to alkaloids...
, probably derived from L-tryptophan
Tryptophan
Tryptophan is one of the 20 standard amino acids, as well as an essential amino acid in the human diet. It is encoded in the standard genetic code as the codon UGG...
, that has been found in the bark, shoot
Shoot
Shoots are new plant growth, they can include stems, flowering stems with flower buds, and leaves. The new growth from seed germination that grows upward is a shoot where leaves will develop...
s and leaves
Leaf
A leaf is an organ of a vascular plant, as defined in botanical terms, and in particular in plant morphology. Foliage is a mass noun that refers to leaves as a feature of plants....
of several plant species
Species
In biology, a species is one of the basic units of biological classification and a taxonomic rank. A species is often defined as a group of organisms capable of interbreeding and producing fertile offspring. While in many cases this definition is adequate, more precise or differing measures are...
, including Virola
Virola
Virola, also known as Epená, Patricá, or Cumala, is a genus of medium-sized trees native to the South American rainforest and closely related to other Myristicaceae, such as nutmeg...
, Acacia
Acacia
Acacia is a genus of shrubs and trees belonging to the subfamily Mimosoideae of the family Fabaceae, first described in Africa by the Swedish botanist Carl Linnaeus in 1773. Many non-Australian species tend to be thorny, whereas the majority of Australian acacias are not...
, Mimosa
Mimosa
Mimosa is a genus of about 400 species of herbs and shrubs, in the subfamily Mimosoideae of the legume family Fabaceae. The generic name is derived from the Greek word μιμος , meaning "mimic."...
and Desmanthus
Desmanthus
Desmanthus is a genus of flowering plants in the subfamily Mimosoideae of the pea family, Fabaceae. It contains about 24 species of herbs and shrubs that are sometimes described as being suffruiticose and have bipinnate leaves. Desmanthus is closely related to Leucaena and in appearance is similar...
often together with the related compound
Chemical compound
A chemical compound is a pure chemical substance consisting of two or more different chemical elements that can be separated into simpler substances by chemical reactions. Chemical compounds have a unique and defined chemical structure; they consist of a fixed ratio of atoms that are held together...
s N,N-dimethyltryptamine (DMT) and 5-methoxy-N,N-dimethyltryptamine (5-MeO-DMT). It is also synthesized
Biosynthesis
Biosynthesis is an enzyme-catalyzed process in cells of living organisms by which substrates are converted to more complex products. The biosynthesis process often consists of several enzymatic steps in which the product of one step is used as substrate in the following step...
in the human
Human
Humans are the only living species in the Homo genus...
body as a metabolic endproduct
Metabolite
Metabolites are the intermediates and products of metabolism. The term metabolite is usually restricted to small molecules. A primary metabolite is directly involved in normal growth, development, and reproduction. Alcohol is an example of a primary metabolite produced in large-scale by industrial...
of the amino acid
Amino acid
Amino acids are molecules containing an amine group, a carboxylic acid group and a side-chain that varies between different amino acids. The key elements of an amino acid are carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, and nitrogen...
L-tryptophan. It was found to be a natural trace component in urine of both normal and schizophrenic people.
Orally administered NMT appears to produce no psychoactive biologically effects, likely as a result of extensive first-pass metabolism
Metabolism
Metabolism is the set of chemical reactions that happen in the cells of living organisms to sustain life. These processes allow organisms to grow and reproduce, maintain their structures, and respond to their environments. Metabolism is usually divided into two categories...
. However, it may become active upon combination with a MAOA inhibitor
Monoamine oxidase inhibitor
Monoamine oxidase inhibitors are a class of antidepressant drugs prescribed for the treatment of depression. They are particularly effective in treating atypical depression....
(MAOI).
By vaporization NMT shows activity at 50-100mg, with a duration of 45-70 minutes.
See also
- N-EthyltryptamineN-EthyltryptamineN-Ethyltryptamine , or merely ethyltryptamine, is a psychedelic drug, a tryptamine that is structurally related to N-methyltryptamine and the psychedelic drugs N,N-dimethyltryptamine and N,N-diethyltryptamine .- See also :* N-Methyltryptamine * N,N,-Dimethyltryptamine - External links :* *...
(NET) - N,N,-Dimethyltryptamine (DMT)
- Acacia confusaAcacia confusaAcacia confusa is a perennial tree native to South-East Asia. Some common names for it are Acacia Petit Feuille, Small Philippine Acacia, Formosa Acacia and Formosan Koa. It grows to a height of 15m...
(a natural source of NMT, Buchanan et al. 2007) - Acacia obtusifoliaAcacia obtusifoliaAcacia obtusifolia is a perennial tree in subfamily Mimosoideae of family Fabaceae.- Description :Acacia obtusifolia is an upright or spreading perennial tree which grows from 1.5m to 8m in height and it is native to Australia. It is closely related to Acacia longifolia...
(NMT up to 2/3 alkaloid content) - Acacia simplicifolia (synon. A. simplex) (1.44% NMT in bark, 0.29% twigs, Pouet et al 1976)