Synonym name: Hordenine HCl, 539-15-1(base)
Catalogue No.: BP0737
Cas No.: 6027-23-2
Formula: C10H15NO
Mol Weight: 165.236
Botanical Source: Alkaloid from Anhalonium fissuratum, Hordeum vulgare (barley), a very wide range of plant spp. esp. in the Cactaceae. Also present in the Amaryllidaceae, Gramineae, Leguminosae and a few algae and fungi including marine alga Phyllophora nervosa
Purity: 95%~99%
Analysis Method: HPLC-DAD or/and HPLC-ELSD
Identification Method: Mass, NMR
Packing: Brown vial or HDPE plastic bottle
Can be supplied from milligrams to grams.
For Reference Standard and R&D, Not for Human Use Directly.
Inquire for bulk scale.
Storage conditions：Short-term storage at 2~8℃, long-term storage at -20 ~ -80℃
Hordenine Chloride (CAS number: 6027-23-2) is a naturally occurring alkaloid found in various plants, particularly in barley malt and other grains. As a natural product with multiple biological activities, maltine hydrochloride has attracted widespread attention in the field of pharmacology in recent years. Its main pharmacological effects include inhibiting melanin production, neuroprotection, and regulating central nervous system function, demonstrating good potential clinical application value.
In the field of neuroprotection, maltine hydrochloride exhibits a complex and multi-level mechanism of action by regulating multiple key molecular targets, such as BCL2, APP, BACE1, MAPT, SIRT1, MAPK1, ACHE, CASP3, SNCA, and NRF2. These targets play important roles in the pathological processes of neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's disease and Parkinson's disease, and the regulatory effect of hydrochloride maltine provides a theoretical basis and experimental basis for the development of new neuroprotective drugs.
This article will provide a systematic review of the chemical structure and physicochemical properties, plant sources and extraction methods, pharmacological activity and mechanism of action, pharmacological evaluation and pharmacokinetic characteristics of maltine hydrochloride. Combined with its potential applications in neuroprotection and other diseases, it will explore its future clinical translational prospects.
The chemical name of maltine hydrochloride is 4- (2-phenylethyl) methylamine hydrochloride, with a molecular formula of C10H15ClN and a molecular weight of 165.2360. Its structure contains a phenylethylamine skeleton with a methyl substituted amino group, and its hydrochloride form enhances its water solubility and stability. The hydrophobicity of the benzene ring in the molecular structure is combined with the hydrophilicity of the amino group, giving it good drug compatibility.
In terms of physicochemical properties, the LogP value of maltine hydrochloride is 1.9729, indicating moderate lipid solubility and facilitating penetration of cell membranes and the blood-brain barrier (BBB). Its topological polar surface area (TPSA) is 23.4700, and a lower TPSA facilitates the distribution of molecules in the central nervous system. The water solubility is 7.3041, indicating that it has good solubility under physiological conditions and is convenient for oral or injection administration.
It is worth noting that maltine hydrochloride exhibits high blood-brain barrier penetration ability, which is crucial for its neuroprotective effect. The hERG channel inhibition experiment showed that there is a certain risk of cardiac toxicity, which needs to be paid attention to in the drug development process. The Ames test result is 0.0, indicating no significant genotoxicity and high safety.
Glutamine hydrochloride is mainly found in grasses, especially in barley malt (Hordeum vulgare) which is abundant in content. In addition, some cacti and leguminous plants also contain this alkaloid. The content of maltine hydrochloride in plants is greatly affected by growth environment, variety, and harvesting time.
Traditional extraction methods often use acidic aqueous solution extraction combined with organic solvent separation. The specific steps include:
In recent years, the application of ultrasound assisted extraction, microwave-assisted extraction, and high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) purification technology has improved extraction efficiency and purity, providing technical support for industrial production.
The pharmacological activity of maltine hydrochloride is mainly reflected in the following aspects:
Glutamine hydrochloride inhibits the production of intracellular cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP), thereby downregulating tyrosinase activity and suppressing melanin synthesis. This effect makes it potentially valuable in skin whitening and the treatment of pigmentation related diseases. Related in vitro cell experiments have shown that maltine hydrochloride can significantly reduce the melanin content in melanocytes without significant cytotoxicity.
Glutamine hydrochloride exhibits neuroprotective effects in various neurodegenerative disease models. It slows down neuronal damage by regulating signaling pathways related to cell apoptosis, oxidative stress, and inflammatory response. Specifically manifested as:
Maltine hydrochloride has a certain inhibitory effect on acetylcholinesterase (ACHE), which may improve cognitive dysfunction. In addition, its regulation of alpha synuclein A (SNCA) and microtubule associated protein tau (MAPT) suggests its potential application in Parkinson's disease and other neurodegenerative diseases.
Glutamine hydrochloride regulates the MAPK signaling pathway, inhibits the release of inflammatory mediators, and reduces the inflammatory response of nerves and peripheral tissues. It activates the NRF2 pathway, enhances cellular antioxidant defense, and reduces oxidative stress damage.
The mechanism of action of hydrochloride barley malt alkaloid involves multiple signaling pathways and key molecular targets, as follows:
Hydrochloride barley malt alkaloids inhibit adenylate cyclase activity, reduce cAMP levels, and thereby affect the activity of protein kinase A (PKA) and downstream transcription factor CREB, regulating melanin production and neuronal function.
By upregulating the expression of anti apoptotic protein BCL2, barley malt alkaloid hydrochloride enhances the anti apoptotic ability of neurons and protects them from internal and external damage.
Sodium maltine hydrochloride can downregulate the expression of APP and BACE1, reduce β - amyloid deposition, and delay the pathological progression of Alzheimer's disease.
By regulating the abnormal aggregation of MAPT and SNCA proteins, maltine hydrochloride is expected to alleviate neurofibrillary tangles and Lewy body pathology, and improve symptoms of neurodegenerative diseases.
Glutamine hydrochloride activates SIRT1, promotes cellular metabolic homeostasis and antioxidant response, while regulating MAPK1 signaling, participating in cell proliferation, differentiation, and stress response.
By inhibiting acetylcholinesterase and increasing acetylcholine levels with barley malt alkaloid hydrochloride, it can help improve cognitive function and has potential anti dementia effects.
Glutamine hydrochloride promotes NRF2 nuclear translocation, induces downstream antioxidant enzyme expression, and enhances cell resistance to oxidative stress.
Maltine hydrochloride has excellent pharmacological parameters:
Pharmacokinetic studies have shown that maltine hydrochloride is rapidly absorbed after oral administration, with a moderate plasma half-life and widespread distribution, especially at high concentrations in brain tissue. The metabolic pathway is mainly through the liver enzyme system, and the safety of metabolites is good. Excretion is mainly accomplished through urine.
However, the inhibition of hERG channels by hydrochloride barley malt alkaloids suggests a potential risk of cardiac toxicity, which needs to be closely monitored in preclinical safety evaluations. In addition, its lack of genotoxicity (Ames test negative) provides a safety guarantee for subsequent drug development.
As a natural alkaloid, hydrochloride barley malt alkaloid has shown broad clinical application prospects due to its multi-target and multi mechanism neuroprotective effects. Its potential therapeutic value in neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's disease and Parkinson's disease has received particular attention.
In addition, the inhibitory effect of maltine hydrochloride on melanin production makes it have potential for development in the fields of skin diseases and beauty. In the future, modern pharmaceutical technology can be combined to develop oral formulations, brain targeted delivery systems, etc., to improve their bioavailability and therapeutic efficacy.
Although clinical research on maltine hydrochloride is still in its infancy, based on its good drug properties and safety, combined with systematic pharmacological research, it is expected to promote its entry into the clinical trial stage. Future research should focus on its long-term safety evaluation, dosage optimization, and combination therapy strategies to further clarify its therapeutic effects and mechanisms of action.
As a widely sourced natural alkaloid, hydrochloride barley malt alkaloid has shown important research and application value in the fields of neuroprotection and regulation of melanin production due to its unique chemical structure and diverse pharmacological activities. Its multi-target mechanism of action provides new ideas and strategies for the treatment of complex neurodegenerative diseases.
The pharmacological evaluation shows that maltine hydrochloride has good drug properties, especially its excellent blood-brain barrier penetration ability, laying the foundation for the treatment of neurological diseases. In the future, combined with modern drug development technology and clinical research, maltine hydrochloride is expected to become an important candidate drug in the field of natural product pharmacology.
In summary, the in-depth study of maltine hydrochloride not only enriches the theoretical system of natural product pharmacology, but also provides new drug resources and development directions for neuroprotection and the treatment of related diseases.
