2-hydroxybenzylamine

2-hydroxybenzylamine (2-HOBA) is a naturally occurring small molecule found in Himalayan tartary buckwheat and other sources. It acts as a potent scavenger of reactive carbonyl species, particularly γ-ketoaldehydes (γKAs) and isolevuglandins (IsoLGs), which are highly reactive products of lipid peroxidation implicated in oxidative stress-related cellular damage. By rapidly reacting with these electrophiles, 2-HOBA prevents their covalent modification of proteins, nucleic acids, and phospholipids—thereby reducing inflammation, promoting plaque stability in atherosclerosis models, protecting cardiac sodium channels from oxidant-induced inactivation, and potentially mitigating cognitive decline associated with conditions like Alzheimer's disease. It has demonstrated safety in animal studies and Phase I clinical trials. The compound is available as an over-the-counter dietary supplement under the brand name Hobamine and has been investigated for use in atrial fibrillation recurrence prevention post-ablation, rheumatoid arthritis, familial hypercholesterolemia, hypertension-related vascular injury, gastric cancer chemoprevention (especially related to H. pylori infection), and neurodegenerative diseases[1][3][4][6][7].

Brand names

Hobamine

Other names

salicylamine2-(aminomethyl)phenolα-amino-o-cresolo-hydroxybenzylaminephenol, 2-(aminomethyl)-2-hydroxybenzyL