N-acetylserotonin

N-acetylserotonin (NAS), also known as normelatonin, is a naturally occurring intermediate in the biosynthesis of melatonin from serotonin. It is produced by the enzyme arylalkylamine N-acetyltransferase (AANAT) and converted to melatonin by acetylserotonin O-methyltransferase. Beyond its role as a precursor, NAS has distinct biological activities, including acting as an agonist at melatonin receptors (MT1, MT2, MT3) and as a potent agonist of the Tropomyosin receptor kinase B (TrkB) receptor—a property not shared with serotonin or melatonin. This activation of TrkB is associated with neurotrophic and antidepressant effects, such as promoting neural progenitor cell proliferation and enhancing hippocampal plasticity. NAS also exhibits strong antioxidant properties—reported to be 5–20 times more effective than melatonin in some models—and may contribute to neuroprotection and cognitive function enhancement. It has been proposed for potential use in treating depression, aging-associated cognitive decline, sleep disorders, and neurodegenerative conditions[1][3][6][8].

Other names

normelatonin