Pinoline is a methoxylated tryptoline (5-methoxytryptoline) long claimed to be produced in the pineal gland during the metabolism of melatonin, however its pineal occurrence remains controversial.[1] Its IUPAC name is 6-methoxy-1,2,3,4-tetrahydro-β-carboline, usually abbreviated as 6-MeO-THBC, and its more common name is a combination of "pineal beta-carboline".[2] The biological activity of this molecule is of interest as a potential free radical scavenger, also known as an antioxidant,[3] and as a monoamine oxidase A inhibitor.[4]
Bausch & Lomb filed a patent for a drug delivery device utilizing this molecule, designed to treat various ophthalmic disorders in 2006.[5]
^Callaway, James C.; Gyntber, Jukka; Poso, Antti; Airaksinen, Mauno M.; Vepsäläinen, Jouko (1994). "The pictet-spengler reaction and biogenic tryptamines: Formation of tetrahydro-β-carbolines at physiologicalpH". Journal of Heterocyclic Chemistry. 31 (2): 431. doi:10.1002/jhet.5570310231.
^Airaksinen, M. M., Huang, J. T., Ho, B. T., Taylor, D., and Walker, K. (1978). "The Uptake of 6-Methoxy-1,2,3,4-Tetrahydro-β-carboline and its Effect on 5-Hydroxytryptamine Uptake and Release in Blood Platelets". Acta Pharmacologica et Toxicologica. 43 (5): 375–380. doi:10.1111/j.1600-0773.1978.tb02281.x. PMID726902.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
^Bartels, S. P. (2006) U.S. Patent No. 20,060,292,202 Washington, DC: U.S.