MOLECULE

Indoleacetaldehyde

Indoleacetaldehyde, also known as tryptaldehyde, belongs to the class of organic compounds known as 3-alkylindoles. 3-alkylindoles are compounds containing an indole moiety that carries an alkyl chain at the 3-position. An indoleacetaldehyde that is acetaldehyde in which one of the methyl hydrogens are replaced by a indol-3-yl group. Indoleacetaldehyde is an extremely weak basic (essentially neutral) compound (based on its pKa). Indoleacetaldehyde exists in all living species, ranging from bacteria to humans. Within humans, indoleacetaldehyde participates in a number of enzymatic reactions. In particular, indoleacetaldehyde can be biosynthesized from tryptamine; which is mediated by the enzyme kynurenine 3-monooxygenase. In addition, indoleacetaldehyde can be converted into indoleacetic acid through its interaction with the enzyme aldehyde dehydrogenase, mitochondrial. In humans, indoleacetaldehyde is involved in tryptophan metabolism. Outside of the human body, Indoleacetaldehyde has been detected, but not quantified in, several different foods, such as ohelo berries, mamey sapotes, turnips, chives, and pummelo. This could make indoleacetaldehyde a potential biomarker for the consumption of these foods. Indoleacetaldehyde is expected to be in Cannabis as all living plants are known to produce and metabolize it.