(5-HTP) 5-Hydroxytryptophan

Griffonia simplicifolia: The seeds of the plant are used as a herbal supplement for their 5-hydroxytryptophan (5-HTP) content. 5-HTP is a naturally occurring amino acid, which is an important building block for the human body to form serotonin, a neurotransmitter. Serotonin is involved in regulating mood, sleep, appetite and pain sensation. Griffonia simplicifolia may have some possible health benefits such as reducing stress and improving sleep quality.

It is also used to manage:

Insomnia, depression, anxiety, migraine and tension-type headaches, fibromyalgia, obesity, premenstrual syndrome (PMS), premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD), attention deficit-hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), seizures, sexual disorders, and Parkinson’s disease.
Post-hypoxic myoclonus, which is a type of involuntary muscle twitching that occurs after a lack of oxygen to the brain.
5-HTP may increase feelings of fullness, causing you to eat less and lose weight. Weight loss can increase the production of hormones that make you feel hungry. These feelings of constant hunger can make losing weight unsustainable in the long term. 5-HTP may counteract these hunger-inducing hormones, working to suppress appetite and help you lose weight. In one older study, 20 people with diabetes were randomly assigned to receive either 5-HTP or a placebo for 2 weeks. The results showed that those who received 5-HTP consumed approximately 421 fewer calories per day, compared to the placebo group. What’s more, 5-HTP primarily inhibited the intake of calories from carbohydrates, which was associated with better blood sugar control. Many other studies have also found that 5-HTP increased feelings of fullness and aided weight loss in people with overweight or obesity. Moreover, one older animal study found that 5-HTP could reduce excessive food intake due to stress.

Oxitriptan is another name for 5-hydroxytryptophan (5-HTP), which is a naturally occurring amino acid and a chemical precursor as well as a metabolic intermediate in the biosynthesis of the neurotransmitter serotonin and the hormone melatonin.