N-Methyltryptamine (NMT), also known as monomethyltryptamine, is a chemical compound of the tryptamine family and a naturally occurring compound found in the human body and certain plants.
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| Other names | NMT; Methyltryptamine; N-MT; Monomethyltryptamine; Dipterine; PAL-152; PAL152 |
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| ECHA InfoCard | 100.000.462 |
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| Formula | C11H14N2 |
| Molar mass | 174.247 g·mol−1 |
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| Melting point | 87 to 89 °C (189 to 192 °F) |
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It is biosynthesized in humans from tryptamine by certain N-methyltransferase enzymes, such as indolethylamine N-methyltransferase.[1][2] It is a known component in human urine.[3] NMT is an alkaloid derived from L-tryptophan that has been found in the bark, shoots and leaves of several plant genera, including Virola, Acacia, Mimosa, and Desmanthus—often together with the related compounds N,N-dimethyltryptamine (DMT) and 5-methoxy-N,N-dimethyltryptamine (5-MeO-DMT).[4]
NMT acts as a serotonin receptor agonist and serotonin releasing agent[5] and is said to produce hallucinogenic effects in humans.[6][7][8]
Effects
editOrally administered NMT appears to produce no psychoactive effects, likely as a result of extensive first-pass metabolism.[9]
According to Alexander Shulgin and others, NMT is active via non-oral routes.[6][7][8] It has been said to produce psychedelic effects at doses of 50 to 120 mg by smoking or vaporization, with a duration of seconds to minutes.[6][7][8] Based on preliminary reports, NMT is reported to produce visuals, but its effects are described as primarily spatial in nature, among other effects.[6][7][8]
NMT has also been reported to be orally active in combination with a monoamine oxidase inhibitor (MAOI).[7][8]
Pharmacology
editNMT is known to act as a potent serotonin 5-HT2A receptor full agonist (EC50 = 50.7 nM; Emax = 96%).[5] It has been reported to be inactive in activating the β-arrestin pathway of the receptor and hence appears to be a biased agonist of the serotonin 5-HT2A receptor.[5] In contrast to the serotonin 5-HT2A receptor, the drug is not an agonist of the serotonin 5-HT1A receptor.[5]
In addition to its serotonin 5-HT2A receptor agonism, NMT is a potent serotonin releasing agent (EC50 = 22.4 nM).[5] It also releases dopamine and norepinephrine much more weakly (EC50 = 321 nM and 733 nM, respectively; 14- and 33-fold less than for serotonin, respectively).[5]
Legality
editIn the United States NMT is considered a schedule 1 controlled substance as an positional isomer of Alpha-methyltryptamine (AMT).[10]
See also
edit- N-Ethyltryptamine (NET)
- N,N,-Dimethyltryptamine (DMT)
- Acacia confusa (a natural source of NMT, with other tryptamines, 1.63%. Buchanan et al. 2007)
- Acacia obtusifolia (NMT up to 2/3 alkaloid content)
- Acacia simplicifolia (synon. A. simplex) (1.44% NMT in bark, 0.29% twigs, Pouet et al. 1976)
- Desmanthus illinoensis (NMT major component seasonally)
References
edit- ^ Lindemann L, Hoener MC (May 2005). "A renaissance in trace amines inspired by a novel GPCR family". Trends in Pharmacological Sciences. 26 (5): 274–281. doi:10.1016/j.tips.2005.03.007. PMID 15860375.
- ^ Burchett SA, Hicks TP (August 2006). "The mysterious trace amines: protean neuromodulators of synaptic transmission in mammalian brain". Progress in Neurobiology. 79 (5–6): 223–246. doi:10.1016/j.pneurobio.2006.07.003. PMID 16962229. S2CID 10272684.
- ^ Forsström T, Tuominen J, Karkkäinen J (2001). "Determination of potentially hallucinogenic N-dimethylated indoleamines in human urine by HPLC/ESI-MS-MS". Scandinavian Journal of Clinical and Laboratory Investigation. 61 (7): 547–56. doi:10.1080/003655101753218319. PMID 11763413. S2CID 218987277.
- ^ Ott, Jonathan (1996). Pharmacotheon: Entheogenic Drugs, Their Plant Sources and History. Natural Products Company. ISBN 978-0-9614234-8-3.
- ^ a b c d e f Blough BE, Landavazo A, Decker AM, Partilla JS, Baumann MH, Rothman RB (October 2014). "Interaction of psychoactive tryptamines with biogenic amine transporters and serotonin receptor subtypes". Psychopharmacology (Berl). 231 (21): 4135–4144. doi:10.1007/s00213-014-3557-7. PMC 4194234. PMID 24800892.
- ^ a b c d Shulgin A, Shulgin A (1997). TiHKAL: The Continuation. Berkeley: Transform Press.
To my knowledge there have been no reports of oral activity of NMT, although its wide availability from botanic sources has encouraged some explorers to assay it. I have had one report that the smoking of 50–100 mg gave visuals that lasted for maybe 15 seconds.
- ^ a b c d e Nen (4 December 2011). Entheogenic effects of NMT from Acacia. Entheogenesis Australis (EGA) Conference, Victoria, Australia, 2–5 December 2011 (PDF).
- ^ a b c d e Nen (13 July 2013). NMT: A Spatial Hallucinogen With Therapeutic Applications. Breaking Convention: The Second Multidisciplinary Conference on Psychedelic Consciousness, University of Greenwich, London, 12–14 July 2013.
- ^ Foye WO, Lemke TL, Williams DA (2002). "Hallucinogens, Stimulatants, and Drugs of Abuse". Foye's Principles of Medicinal Chemistry (5th ed.). p. 439. ISBN 9780683307375.
- ^ "Orange Book - List of Controlled Substances and Regulated Chemicals" (PDF). U.S. Department of Justice Diversion Control Division. August 2023. Archived (PDF) from the original on September 6, 2023.