What is tryptophan ?

Molecular formula of L-tryptophan: C11H12N2O2, white to yellowish white crystal or crystalline powder. No odor or slight odor, and colored under long-term light. It is stable when heated in the dark with acid. It is easy to decompose when coexisting with other amino acids, sugars and aldehydes.

Tryptophan is also known as tryptophan β- Indolyl alanine, chemical formula C11H12N2O2, is one of the essential amino acids of human body. The appearance is white or yellowish crystal or crystalline powder, odorless and slightly bitter. It is slightly soluble in water, very slightly soluble in ethanol, insoluble in chloroform, easily soluble in formic acid, and soluble in sodium hydroxide test solution or dilute hydrochloric acid. Tryptophan is an important precursor of auxin biosynthesis in plants. Its structure is similar to IAA and widely exists in higher plants; It is also the precursor of serotonin, an important neurotransmitter in human body; It can be used as nutritional supplement for pregnant women and special milk powder for suckling children. It is used for niacin deficiency (pellagra). As a tranquilizer, it can adjust mental rhythm and improve sleep. It is also one of the raw materials of compound amino acid infusion.

L-tryptophan, also known as α- Aminoindolyl propionic acid, molecular formula: C11H12N2O2, white to yellowish white crystal or crystalline powder. No odor or slight odor, and colored under long-term light. It is stable when heated in the dark with acid. It is easy to decompose when coexisting with other amino acids, sugars and aldehydes. Used as food fortifier and antioxidant. It is also used in medicine and other aspects. It is synthesized from indole aldehyde. It can also be prepared by trypsin decomposition and synthesis.

Tryptophan is white or yellowish crystalline or crystalline powder; Odorless, slightly bitter. Melting point 281 ~ 282 ℃ (dextral body), decomposition at 289 ℃, levorotatory body. The racemate is slightly soluble in water (0.4%, 25 ℃) and ethanol, soluble in formic acid, dilute acid and dilute alkali, insoluble in chloroform and ether. The pH of 0.2% aqueous solution is 5.5 ~ 7.0. There is a strong absorption peak at 280 nm.

Tryptophan is an amino acid, which plays a very important role in health. Without this protein, human beings will not survive. It is one of the DNA building blocks and is very important for the production of serotonin and melatonin. You can find it from dairy products, bananas, chocolate and poultry.

Some old-fashioned treatments for insomnia are based on the consumption of foods containing tryptophan. For example, drinking a glass of milk before going to bed is said to help sleep. Although it was not clear that tryptophan existed at that time, this method worked somewhat. Nowadays, people may have heard of a diet recipe similar to tryptophan, which not only helps sleep, but also helps improve mood.

In the United States in the late 1980s, tryptophan nutritional supplements were once associated with the outbreak of bacterial autoimmune diseases, eosinophilia and myalgia syndrome. The disease was fatal, and as a result, tryptophan health products had to be withdrawn from the U.S. market.

Like other nutritional health products, it is recommended to consult a doctor before taking tryptophan supplements. Because it may react with other drugs or cause side effects.

Applications:

Human: nutritional supplement. antioxidant. Tryptophan is the precursor of 5-hydroxytryptamine, an important neurotransmitter in human body, and one of the essential amino acids in human body; It is used as nutritional supplement for pregnant women and special milk powder for young children; Drugs for the treatment of niacin deficiency (pellagra); As a tranquilizer, it can regulate mental rhythm and improve sleep.

Animals: promote animal feeding, weaken stress response, improve animal sleep, increase fetal and infant antibodies and improve lactation of dairy animals. Reduce the amount of high-quality dietary protein, save feed cost, reduce the amount of dietary protein feed, and save formula space.