9-Me-BC (9-Methyl-β-carboline) is a heterocyclic amine from the β-carboline family that has shown dopaminergic neurotrophic properties in preclinical studies. It is not a peptide but appears in peptide vendor catalogs and nootropic databases. In vitro and rodent studies suggest it promotes dopaminergic neuron growth and differentiation, upregulates tyrosine hydroxylase, and has anti-inflammatory effects in the brain. It has gained popularity in nootropic communities but carries significant safety unknowns, including potential phototoxicity and MAO inhibition.
Category: Nootropic / Dopaminergic. Evidence rating: D (animal/preclinical only).
Clinical status: Preclinical only. No human clinical trials. In vitro and rodent data only.
9-Me-BC enhances dopaminergic neurotransmission through multiple mechanisms: it upregulates tyrosine hydroxylase (the rate-limiting enzyme in dopamine synthesis), promotes neurite outgrowth in dopaminergic neurons, and reduces neuroinflammation by inhibiting microglial activation. It also inhibits…
Safety considerations: No human safety data exists; β-carbolines as a class have potential phototoxicity — UV light exposure during use may cause DNA damage; MAO inhibition carries risk of hypertensive crisis with tyramine-containing foods or serotonergic drugs.
Reviewed by the PeptideAtlas Editorial Team.
| Molecular formula | C12H10N2 |
|---|---|
| Molecular weight | ~182.2 g/mol |
| Production method | synthetic |
| Anti-doping status | not-listed |
| US regulatory status | Not FDA-approved. Sold as a research chemical. |
No. It is a small heterocyclic amine from the β-carboline family. It appears in peptide databases because many nootropic peptide vendors also sell it, and the user communities overlap significantly.
Unknown. There are no human safety studies. The β-carboline class has known phototoxicity (sun sensitivity and potential DNA damage), and 9-Me-BC inhibits MAO enzymes, which can cause dangerous interactions with common foods and medications.
It shows promise in preclinical models of dopaminergic neuron protection, but no human studies exist. Many compounds that show neuroprotection in vitro fail to translate to clinical benefit. Self-treatment of Parkinson's disease with unregulated compounds is dangerous.
Based on the known phototoxicity of β-carbolines, minimizing UV exposure during use is strongly advised by researchers familiar with the compound class. This includes sunlight and tanning beds.