5-Methoxytryptamine

5-Methoxytryptamine
Clinical data
Other names5-MeO-T; 5-OMe-T; 5-MeOT; 5-MeO-TPA; 5-MT; MT; 5-Hydroxytryptamine methyl ether; Serotonin methyl ether; O-Methylserotonin; O-Methyl-5-HT; Mexamine; Meksamin; Mekasamin; PAL-234
Routes of
administration
Orally inactive
Drug classNon-selective serotonin receptor agonist; Serotonin 5-HT2A receptor agonist; Serotonergic psychedelic; Hallucinogen
Pharmacokinetic data
MetabolismMAO-ATooltip Monoamine oxidase A
Identifiers
  • 2-(5-Methoxy-1H-indol-3-yl)ethanamine
CAS Number
PubChem CID
IUPHAR/BPS
ChemSpider
UNII
KEGG
ChEBI
ChEMBL
CompTox Dashboard (EPA)
ECHA InfoCard100.009.231
Chemical and physical data
FormulaC11H14N2O
Molar mass190.246 g·mol−1
3D model (JSmol)
  • O(c1cc2c(cc1)[nH]cc2CCN)C
  • InChI=1S/C11H14N2O/c1-14-9-2-3-11-10(6-9)8(4-5-12)7-13-11/h2-3,6-7,13H,4-5,12H2,1H3 Y
  • Key:JTEJPPKMYBDEMY-UHFFFAOYSA-N Y
  (verify)

5-Methoxytryptamine (5-MT, 5-MeO-T, or 5-OMe-T), also known as serotonin methyl ether or O-methylserotonin and as mexamine, is a tryptamine derivative closely related to the neurotransmitters serotonin and melatonin. It has been shown to occur naturally in the body in low levels, especially in the pineal gland. It is formed via O-methylation of serotonin or N-deacetylation of melatonin.

5-MT is a highly potent and non-selective serotonin receptor agonist and shows serotonergic psychedelic-like effects in animals. However, it is inactive in humans, at least orally, likely due to rapid metabolism by monoamine oxidase (MAO). The levels and effects of 5-MT are dramatically potentiated by monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs) in animals.