Harmane

Chemical compound From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Harmane, or harman, also known as 1-methyl-β-carboline, is a heterocyclic amine and β-carboline found in a variety of foods including coffee,[1] sauces,[2] and cooked meat.[3] It is also present in tobacco smoke.[4]

Quick facts Names, Identifiers ...
Harmane
Names
Preferred IUPAC name
1-Methyl-9H-pyrido[3,4-b]indole
Other names
Harman, 1-Methyl-β-carboline, Aribine, Aribin, Locuturine, Locuturin, Loturine, Passiflorin, 1-Methylnorharman, NSC 54439
Identifiers
3D model (JSmol)
ChEBI
ChemSpider
ECHA InfoCard 100.006.948 Edit this at Wikidata
EC Number
  • 207-642-2
KEGG
UNII
  • InChI=1S/C12H10N2/c1-8-12-10(6-7-13-8)9-4-2-3-5-11(9)14-12/h2-7,14H,1H3
    Key: PSFDQSOCUJVVGF-UHFFFAOYSA-N
  • InChI=1/C12H10N2/c1-8-12-10(6-7-13-8)9-4-2-3-5-11(9)14-12/h2-7,14H,1H3
    Key: PSFDQSOCUJVVGF-UHFFFAOYAA
  • CC1=NC=CC2=C1NC3=CC=CC=C23
Properties
C12H10N2
Molar mass 182.226 g·mol−1
Melting point 235–238 °C (455–460 °F; 508–511 K)
Soluble to 10 mM in 1 eq. HCl

methanol: soluble 50 mg/ml

Except where otherwise noted, data are given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C [77 °F], 100 kPa).
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Harmane is related to other alkaloids, harmine and harmaline, found in 1837 in the plant Peganum harmala.[5] The name derives from the Arabic word for the plant, حَرْمَل (ḥarmal).

In humans, harmane is a potent tremor-producing neurotoxin.[6] Harmane has been found to inhibit the early stages of the growth of the malaria parasite in the gut of mosquitoes infected by the bacterium Delftia tsuruhatensis, and can be absorbed by the mosquitoes upon contact.[7][8][9]

Pharmacology

Harmane fails to substitute for the psychedelic drug DOM in rodent drug discrimination tests.[10] This is similar to the case of harmine but is in contrast to harmaline and 6-methoxyharmalan.[10]

Chemistry

Harmane is a methylated derivative of β-carboline with the molecular formula C12H10N2.

Natural occurrence

More information Family, Plant ...
Plant sources
FamilyPlant
RubiaceaeCoffea arabica[1]
SolanaceaeNicotiana tabacum[11]
TheaceaeCamellia sinensis[12]
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In 1962, Poindexter et al. found that there was very little harmane in tobacco, but a significant amount in tobacco smoke. They showed that it is produced from tryptophan by the heat of burning the tobacco.[11]

Society and culture

Canada

Harmane is not a controlled substance in Canada as of 2025.[13]

See also

References

External links

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