AMK (hydrochloride) (Synonyms: N-γ-acetyl-5-Methoxykynurenamine, N1-acetyl-5-Methoxykynuramine)

AMK is an active metabolite of the neurohormone melatonin .^1,2,3,4 It is formed from melatonin via the metabolic intermediate AFMK that is then deformylated by catalase or formamidase.^5,6 AMK scavenges singlet oxygen in vitro when used at a concentration of 200 µM.¹ It inhibits the epinephrine- and arachidonic acid-induced production of prostaglandin E₂ and PGD₂ in ovine seminal vesicle microsomes in a concentration- and time-dependent manner, as well as LPS-induced increases in COX-2 levels in RAW 264.7 macrophages when used at a concentration of 500 µM.^2,3 AMK (20 mg/kg) decreases MPTP-induced increases in lipid peroxidation in the cytosol and mitochondria from substantia nigra and striatum in a mouse model of MPTP-induced Parkinson’s disease.⁴

1.Schaefer, M., and Hardeland, R.The melatonin metabolite N1-acetyl-5-methoxykynuramine is a potent singlet oxygen scavengerJ. Pineal Res.46(1)49-52(2009) 2.Kelly, R.W., Amato, F., and Seamark, R.F.N-acetyl-5-methoxy kynurenamine, a brain metabolite of melatonin, is a potent inhibitor of prostaglandin biosynthesisBiochem. Biophys. Res. Commun.121(1)372-379(1984) 3.Mayo, J.C., Sainz, R.M., Tan, D.-X., et al.Anti-inflammatory actions of melatonin and its metabolites, N1-acetyl-N2-formyl-5-methoxykynuramine (AFMK) and N1-acetyl-5-methoxykynuramine (AMK), in macrophagesJ. Neuroimmunol.165(1-2)139-149(2005) 4.Tapias, V., Escames, G., LÓpez, L.C., et al.Melatonin and its brain metabolite N1-acetyl-5-methoxykynuramine prevent mitochondrial nitric oxide synthase induction in parkinsonian miceJ. Neurosci. Res.87(13)3002-3010(2009) 5.Tan, D.-X., Manchester, L.C., Reiter, R.J., et al.Melatonin directly scavenges hydrogen peroxide: A potentially new metabolic pathway of melatonin biotransformationFree Radic. Biol. Med.29(11)1177-1185(2000) 6.Hirata, F., Hayaishi, O., Tokuyama, T., et al.In vitro and in vivo formation of two new metabolites of melatoninJ. Biol. Chem.249(4)1311-1313(1974)