Compound Monograph
Pinoline
Pinoline is a beta-carboline reported as a minor endogenous compound, related to the harmala alkaloids.
Where Does It Come From?
Pinoline is a naturally occurring (and made in the body) beta-carboline (tetrahydro-beta-carboline). It is flagged as moderately toxic.
Pinoline is a methoxylated tetrahydro-beta-carboline that has been reported as a minor naturally occurring compound in mammals, sometimes linked to the metabolism of indoleamines such as melatonin. It belongs to the same broad chemical family as the harmala alkaloids and has been studied for antioxidant and monoamine oxidase-related activity, though claims about its physiological role and any psychoactivity remain uncertain and not well established.