Tryptophol and its derivatives 5-hydroxytryptophol and 5-methoxytryptophol, inducesleep in mice. It induces a sleep-like state that lasts less than an hour at the 250 mg/kg dose.[16] These compounds may play a role in physiological sleep mechanisms.[17] It may be afunctional analog ofserotonin ormelatonin, compounds involved in sleep regulation.
Tryptophol is aquorum sensing molecule for the yeastSaccharomyces cerevisiae.[19] It is also found in the bloodstream of patients with chronic trypanosomiasis. For that reason, it may be aquorum sensing molecule for the trypanosome parasite.[18]
In the case of trypanosome infection, tryptophol decreases the immune response of the host.[20]
As it is formed in the liver afterethanol ingestion ordisulfiram treatment, it is also associated with the study ofalcoholism.[1][16]Pyrazole andethanol have been shown to inhibit the conversion of exogenous tryptophol toindole-3-acetic acid and to potentiate the sleep-inducing hypothermic effects of tryptophol in mice.[21]
^Sandberg G, Ernstsen A, Hamnede M (1987). "Dynamics of indole-3-acetic acid and indole-3-ethanol during development and germination of Pinus sylvestris seeds".Physiologia Plantarum.71 (4):411–418.doi:10.1111/j.1399-3054.1987.tb02876.x.
^Richard Seed J, Seed TM, Sechelski J (1978). "The biological effects of tryptophol (indole-3-ethanol): Hemolytic, biochemical and behavior modifying activity".Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology C.60 (2):175–185.doi:10.1016/0306-4492(78)90091-6.PMID28889.
^Gil C, Gómez-Cordovés C (1986). "Tryptophol content of young wines made from Tempranillo, Garnacha, Viura and Airén grapes".Food Chemistry.22:59–65.doi:10.1016/0308-8146(86)90009-9.
^Ribéreau-Gayon P, Sapis JC (1965). "On the presence in wine of tyrosol, tryptophol, phenylethyl alcohol and gamma-butyrolactone, secondary products of alcoholic fermentation".Comptes Rendus de l'Académie des Sciences, Série D.261 (8):1915–6.PMID4954284. (Article in French)
^Stibbs HH, Seed JR (1975). "Short-Term Metabolism of \14C]Tryptophan in Rats Infected with Trypanosoma brucei gambiense".Journal of Infectious Diseases.131 (4):459–62.doi:10.1093/infdis/131.4.459.PMID1117200.
^Wuster A, Babu MM (2010). "Transcriptional control of the quorum sensing response in yeast".Molecular BioSystems.6 (1):134–41.doi:10.1039/B913579K.PMID20024075.
^Ackerman SB, Seed JR (1976). "The effects of tryptophol on immune responses and its implications toward trypanosome-induced immunosuppression".Experientia.32 (5):645–7.doi:10.1007/BF01990212.PMID776647.S2CID12695689.
^Seed JR, Sechelski J (1977). "Tryptophol levels in mice injected with pharmacological doses of tryptophol, and the effect of pyrazole and ethanol on these levels".Life Sciences.21 (11):1603–10.doi:10.1016/0024-3205(77)90237-5.PMID600013.
^Jelaska S, Magnus V, Seretin M, Lacan G (1985). "Induction of embryogenic callus in Cucurbita pepo hypocotyl explants by indole-3-ethanol and its sugar conjugates".Physiologia Plantarum.64 (2):237–242.doi:10.1111/j.1399-3054.1985.tb02342.x.
