title: L-5-Hydroxytryptophan: antioxidant and anti-apoptotic principle of the intertidal sponge Hymeniacidon heliophila.
abstract: The intertidal sponge Hymeniacidon heliophila which survives under intense sunlight contains the antioxidant amino acid L-5-hydroxytryptophan (L-5-HTP) as major constituent. The content of L-5-HTP was determined as (0.45 +/- 0.23)% of the dry weight by quantitative NMR-spectroscopical analysis with an internal standard. Other known antioxidants such as flavonoids, carotenoids or tocopherol derivatives were absent. Both the oxidation potential and the concentration of L-5-HTP in H. heliophila correspond to the values observed for flavonoids being major antioxidants in plants. It was shown that L-5-HTP suppresses UV-induced apoptosis in human monocytes at the same concentrations as it occurs in the sponge tissue.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, University of Heidelberg, Im Neuenheimer Feld 364, D-69120 Heidelberg, Germany.
authors.forename: Nicola
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Lysek
authors.forename: Ralf
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Kinscherf
authors.forename: Ralf
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Claus
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Lindel
mesh_terms: D006916:5-Hydroxytryptophan / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000494:pharmacology; D000818:Animals; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000378:metabolism*; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000502:physiology* / Q000528:radiation effects; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D006801:Humans; D009000:Monocytes / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects; D011161:Porifera / Q000502:physiology*; D013472:Sunlight; D014466:Ultraviolet Rays
chemical_list: D000975:Antioxidants; D006916:5-Hydroxytryptophan