Phenethylamine is an alkaloid and monoamine. In the human brain, it is discussed as a putative neuromodulator or neurotransmitter. In nature phenethylamine is synthesized from the amino acid phenylalanine by enzymatic decarboxylation. It is also found in many foods, especially after microbial fermentation, e.g. in chocolate. Phenethylamine is a colorless liquid that forms a solid carbonate salt with carbon dioxide (CO2) upon exposure to air. Phenethylamine from food (e.g. chocolate) has been discussed to have psychoactive effects. However, it is quickly metabolized by the enzyme MAO so that significant concentrations do not reach the brain.
Substituted phenethylamines are a broad and diverse class of compounds that include alkaloids, neurotransmitters, hormone, stimulants, hallucinogens, empathogens, anorectics, bronchodilators, and antidepressants.
The phenethylamine structure can also be found as part of more complex ring systems like in the ergoline system of LSD or the morphinan system of morphine.
This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article "Phenethylamine"
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