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Indole-3-propionic acid is a bacterial metabolite that has antioxidant and neuroprotective activities. It scavenges ABTS (Item No. 27317) radicals in a cell-free assay when used at concentrations ranging from 50 to 150 μM and decreases hydrogen peroxide-induced malondialdehyde (MDA) levels in rat striatal membranes (IC₅₀ = 180 μM). Indole-3-propionic acid also decreases increases in MDA levels induced by amyloid β (1-42) (Item No. 20574) in PC12 cells. It decreases ischemia-induced increases in cell death of pyramidal neurons and levels of 4-hydroxy nonenal (HNE; Item No. 32100) and glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) in the hippocampal CA1 region in gerbils when administered at a dose of 10 mg/kg per day.

pale yellow to yellow crystalline powder

3-Indolepropionic acid is a deamination product of Tryptophan (T947200) that protects the hippocampus (studied in gerbils) from ischemic damage and oxidative stress. It’s ability to protect the neurons in this way is attributed to its potent antioxidative effects. 3-Indolepropionic acid is also hypothesized to have protective effects on the thyroid gland.

ChEBI: An indol-3-yl carboxylic acid that is propionic acid substituted by a 1H-indol-3-yl group at position 3.

Tetrahedron Letters, 25, p. 3159, 1984 DOI: 10.1016/S0040-4039(01)90997-9

Studied as an adjunct to improve perfusion after liver transplant.

Store at -20°C

Recrystallise it from EtOH/water [James & Ware J Phys Chem 89 5450 1985]. The picrate has m 143-144o, and the methyl ester crystallises from *C6H6 or MeOH with m 81-83o. [Beilstein 22 III/IV 1113, 22/3 V 114.]

[1] WILLIAM R WIKOFF. Metabolomics analysis reveals large effects of gut microflora on mammalian blood metabolites.[J]. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, 2009, 106 10: 3698-3703. DOI: 10.1073/pnas.0812874106
[2] BURKHARD POEGGELER . Indole-3-propionate: a potent hydroxyl radical scavenger in rat brain[J]. Brain Research, 1999, 815 2: Pages 382-388. DOI: 10.1016/s0006-8993(98)01027-0
[3] IN KOO HWANG. Indole-3-propionic acid attenuates neuronal damage and oxidative stress in the ischemic hippocampus[J]. Journal of Neuroscience Research, 2009, 87 9: 2126-2137. DOI: 10.1002/jnr.22030
[4] Y J CHYAN. Potent neuroprotective properties against the Alzheimer beta-amyloid by an endogenous melatonin-related indole structure, indole-3-propionic acid.[J]. The Journal of Biological Chemistry, 1999, 274 31: 21937-21942. DOI: 10.1074/jbc.274.31.21937