- General Drug Summary
- Description
- An essential amino acid that is necessary for normal growth in infants and for nitrogen balance in adults. It is a precursor of indole alkaloids in plants. It is a precursor of serotonin (hence its use as an antidepressant and sleep aid). It can be a precursor to niacin, albeit inefficiently, in mammals. [PubChem]
- Also Known As
- (-)-Tryptophan; (S)-a-Amino-1H-indole-3-propanoic acid; (S)-a-Amino-b-indolepropionic acid; (S)-a-Aminoindole-3-propionic acid; (S)-Tryptophan; 2-Amino-3-indolylpropanoic acid; 3-Indol-3-ylalanine; alpha-Amino-beta-(3-indolyl)-propionic acid; L-(-)-Tryptophan; l-a-Aminoindole-3-propionic acid; l-b-3-Indolylalanine; L-Tryptophane; Tryptophan; Tryptophane
- Categories
- Antidepressive Agent
- Groups
- approved; nutraceutical
- Structure
- Summary In Neonatal Jaundice
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1 record(s) for L-Tryptophan Effective in Inducing Remission in Neonatal Jaundice.
- PMID
- Drug Name
- Efficacy
- Evidence
- 23950218
- L-Tryptophan
- Effective in Inducing Remission
- Review
- Summary
- UVB-exposed tryptophan treatment can significantly induces UGT1A1 mRNA and activity.
- Importance of UDP-glucuronosyltransferase 1A1 expression in skin and its induction by UVB in neonatal hyperbilirubinemia. Molecular pharmacology, 2013 Nov [Go to PubMed]
- UDP-glucuronosyltransferase (UGT) 1A1 is the sole enzyme that can metabolize bilirubin. Human infants physiologically develop hyperbilirubinemia as the result of inadequate expression of UGT1A1 in the liver. Although phototherapy using blue light is effective in preventing jaundice, sunlight has also been suggested, but without conclusive evidence, to reduce serum bilirubin levels. We investigated the mRNA expression pattern of human UGT1A1 in human skin, human skin keratinocyte (HaCaT) cells, and skin of humanized UGT1 mice. The effects of UVB irradiation on the expression of UGT1A1 in the HaCaT cells were also examined. Multiple UGT1A isoforms, including UGT1A1, were expressed in human skin and HaCaT cells. When HaCaT cells were treated with UVB-exposed tryptophan, UGT1A1 mRNA and activity were significantly induced. Treatment of the HaCaT cells with 6-formylindolo[3,2-b]carbazole, which is one of the tryptophan derivatives formed by UVB, resulted in an induction of UGT1A1 mRNA and activity. In neonates, te expression of UGT1A1 was greater in the skin; in adults, UGT1A1 was expressed mainly in the liver. Treatment of humanized UGT1 mice with UVB resulted in a reduction of serum bilirubin levels, along with increased UGT1A1 expression and activity in the skin. Our data revealed a protective role of UGT1A1 expressed in the skin against neonatal hyperbilirubinemia. Sunlight, a natural and free source of light, makes it possible to treat neonatal jaundice while allowing mothers to breast-feed neonates.