Amino Acids and Amines 1 Flashcards
What are amino acids?
Amino acids
* Contain an Amine (-NH2) and a carboxyl (-COOH) functional group.
* They also have a side chain (R group) specific to each amino acid.
* In plants, they can be precursors to alkaloids, glucosinolates, cyanogenic glycosides and amines
What is L-theanine (γ glutamylethylamide)?
- This is an amino acid in Camellia sinensis (Tea plant) which gives quality and flavour of the tea plant.
- Precursor to neuroactive amines.
Benefits:
* Found to be an anxiolytic.
* Improves concentration and learning ability.
* Enhances immune surveillance.
* Reduces blood pressure.
* Promotes weight loss.
* Studies when used in combination with the flu vaccine - L-cystine and L-theanine enhanced the immune response to influenza vaccine in elderly subjects with low serum total protein or haemoglobin.
What is Tryptophan and 5-hydroxytryptophan?
- The body makes the neurotransmitter serotonin using 5-HTP, which is synthesied from the amino acid tryptophan
- Tryptophan is found in many plants and proteins eg turkey and chicken
- 5-HTP is found more rarely, but it is found in Griffonia simplicifolia.
- 5 HTP is easily absorbed, able to cross blood brain barrier, and metabolised into serotonin.
- It is used as a supplement used to treat fibromyalgia, insomnia, depression, migraine, overeating, and other conditions associated with low serotonin.
- A study shows is can be an effective as some antidepressant.
- In vivo tests: have shown it to be anti inflammatory.
- Clinical study: Griffonia boosted serotonin levels and reduced stress levels.
What are Amines?
Amines are small molecules containing one or more amine groups, and the amines are those parts which are based on one or more atoms of nitrogen.
* Some of the amines are psychoactive, similar to endogenous catecholamine neurotransmitters (cehmical messangers)
* Alkaloidal amines ephedrine and pseudoephedrine in Ephedra sinica - which has been used for thousands of years:
* Better classified as an aromatic amines (an aromatic ring and an amine functional group).
* pseudoephedrine is an isomer (mirror image) of ephedrine.
* Both are sympathomimetic, which means its an CNS stimulant - similar to but less strong than amphetamine.
What are Ephedrine and Pseudoephedrine?
They support the fight or flight response.
- Ephedra dilates bronchi, and induces perspiration and diuresis.
- Trials on Ephedra + caffeine: showed they increased thermogenesis and weight loss in obese patients.
- Support vasoconstriction, raised blood pressure and pulse, increased blood flow to muscles, bronchodilation, pupil dilation, rise in blood sugar.
- Pseudoephedrine has weaker pressor, cardiac and CNS effects.
Ephedrine is actually used in conventional medicine, as a decongestant, reducing oedema in nasal muscosa, and also for asthma and allergic shock. Useful for herbalists using in hayfever, asthma atc.
Used by people trying to lose weight - adverse effects of overuse of ephedrine include:
* Insomnia, restlessness, headache, nausea, vomiting, hypertension, tachycardia…can also cause dependence
* Contraindications: hypertension, angina, heart disease, hyperthyroidism, pregnancy
* Interactions: cardiac glycosides, CNS stimulants, antihypertensive drugs, SSRIs…
Has also been used by athletes as a ‘cheat’
What is Synephrine?
Similar to ephedrine - appetite stimulant.
* Bitter orange extract/ p-synephrine-containing products.
* Increases resting metabolic rate and energy expenditure, and modest increases in weight loss. Much less potent than ephedrine.
* Trial on althletes: P-synephrine and p-synephrine + caffeine enhance local muscle endurance during resistance exercise.
What is 2-phenylethylamine?
- Has an aromatic ring (phenyl), with two carbon side chain (ethyl) having an amino group on the end.
- Similar structure to ephadrine
- Found in cacao beans, mimics amphetamine.
- Chocolate is considered a benefit due to the flavonoids but the above may suggest support for mood
