Tryptophol is an indole that has been found in plants, bacteria, fungi, and sponges and has diverse biological activities, including antifungal, sleep-promoting, and quorum-sensing-related properties.1,2,3 Tryptophol (100 μM) inhibits the growth of the chytrid fungal skin pathogens B. dendrobatidis and B. salamandrivorans in vitro.1 As a quorum-sensing molecule, it also induces autostimulation and increases tryptophol production in B. dendrobatidis and B. salamandrivorans cultures when used at a concentration of 1 μM. Tryptophol (400 mg/kg) induces sleep in mice as assessed by loss of the righting reflex.3
1.Verbrugghe, E., Adriaensen, C., Martel, A., et al.Growth regulation in amphibian pathogenic chytrid fungi by the quorum sensing metabolite tryptopholFront. Microbiol.9:3277(2019) 2.Palmieri, A., and Petrini, M.Tryptophol and derivatives: Natural occurrence and applications to the synthesis of bioactive compoundsNat. Prod. Rep.36(3)490-530(2019) 3.Feldstein, A., Chang, F.H., and Kucharski, J.M.Tryptophol, 5-hydroxytryptophol and 5-methoxytryptophol induced sleep in miceLife Sci.9(6)323-329(1970)