inosine

Inosine is a naturally occurring purine nucleoside formed by the attachment of hypoxanthine to a ribose ring. It serves as a key intermediate in the purine degradation pathway, eventually being metabolized into uric acid. In clinical medicine, particularly in East Asia, inosine is utilized as an adjuvant pharmaceutical for the treatment of leukopenia and thrombocytopenia, often following chemotherapy or radiation therapy, and for various chronic liver diseases. Beyond its hematological applications, inosine has been extensively studied for its neuroprotective potential in neurodegenerative disorders such as Parkinson's disease and multiple sclerosis. Its primary mechanism in these contexts involves its role as a metabolic precursor to urate, a potent endogenous antioxidant that may mitigate oxidative stress-induced neuronal damage. Additionally, inosine acts as an agonist at adenosine receptors (A1, A2A, and A3), which contributes to its immunomodulatory and anti-inflammatory effects, and has been shown to promote axonal rewiring and neurite outgrowth in preclinical models of central nervous system injury.

Brand names

InosieCatacolJigan

Other names

Hypoxanthine riboside9-beta-D-ribofuranosylhypoxanthineHXR肌苷