L-Mimosine

L-Mimosine is a non-protein amino acid that can be isolated from certain plants and fungi. It chelates iron and copper and has been shown to reduce iron overload in animal models.^1,2 L-Mimosine inhibits certain enzymes that contain iron or copper, including arginase (IC₅₀ = 3.7 µM), polyphenoloxidase, and dopamine hydroxylase.^2,3,4 It also inhibits the iron-containing enzyme deoxyhypusine hydroxlase, preventing the synthesis of the eukaryotic initiation factor 5A and blocking cell cycling.⁵

WARNING This product is not for human or veterinary use.

1. Kontoghiorghe, C.N., Kolnagou, A., and Kontoghiorghes, G.J. Phytochelators Intended for Clinical Use in Iron Overload, Other Diseases of Iron Imbalance and Free Radical Pathology. Molecules 20(11), 20841-20872 (2015).

2. Nirmal, N.P., and Benjakul, S. Inhibitory effect of mimosine on polyphenoloxidase from cephalothoraxes of Pacific white shrimp (Litopenaeus vannamei). J. Agric. Food Chem 59(18), 10256-10260 (2011).

3. Ahmad, V.U., Ullah, F., Hussain, J., et al. Tyrosinase inhibitors from Rhododendron collettianum and their structure-activity relationship (SAR) studies. Chem. Pharm. Bull. (Tokyo) 52(12), 1458-1461 (2004).

4. Hashiguchi, H., and Takahashi, H. Inhibition of two copper-containing enzymes, tyrosinase and dopamine beta-hydroxylase, by L-mimosine. Mol. Pharmacol. 13(2), 362-367 (1977).

5. Hanauske-Abel, H.M., Park, M.H., Hanauske, A.R., et al. Inhibition of the G₁-S transition of the cell cycle by inhibitors of deoxyhypusine hydroxylation. Biochim. Biophys. Acta 1221(2), (1994).