Melitracen hydrochloride
[CAS# 10563-70-9]

Identification

• Classification: API >> Nervous system medication >> Antidepressant, manic
• Name: Melitracen hydrochloride
• Synonyms: 3-[10,10-Dimethyl-9(10H)-anthrylidene]-N,N-dimethylpropylamine hydrochloride
• Molecular Formula: C₂₁H₂₅N.HCl
• Molecular Weight: 327.90
• CAS Registry Number: 10563-70-9
• EC Number: 234-150-5
• SMILES: CC1(C2=CC=CC=C2C(=CCCN(C)C)C3=CC=CC=C31)C.Cl

Safety Data

• Hazard Symbols: GHS06 Danger
• Risk Statements: H301
• Safety Statements: P264-P270-P301+P316-P321-P330-P405-P501

Hazard Classification

Hazard	Class	Category Code	Hazard Statement
Acute toxicity	Acute Tox.	3	H301

Discovery and Applications

Melitracen hydrochloride is a tricyclic antidepressant (TCA) with a unique chemical structure and dual mechanism of action that can be used to treat a variety of mood disorders. It is a white to off-white crystalline powder that is soluble in water and ethanol, with moderate solubility in methanol. It has a typical tricyclic structure consisting of three fused rings, which contributes to its pharmacological activity.

Melitracen hydrochloride was first synthesized by Danish researchers in the 1960s to develop new antidepressants with higher efficacy and safety. The goal was to create a compound that combined the therapeutic advantages of traditional TCAs with fewer side effects. Through extensive pharmacological testing, melitracen was found to have significant antidepressant and anxiolytic effects, and therefore has been approved for medical use in several countries.

Melitracen hydrochloride improves mood and anxiety symptoms by inhibiting the reuptake of neurotransmitters such as norepinephrine and serotonin, enhancing their availability in the synaptic cleft. Compared with other TCAs, its dual mechanism of action is believed to provide a more balanced therapeutic effect and is suitable for patients suffering from both depression and anxiety.

Melitracen HCl is primarily used in the treatment of major depressive disorder (MDD). It relieves depressive symptoms by restoring the balance of neurotransmitters in the brain, thereby improving mood, energy levels, and overall well-being. Melitracen HCl is effective in treating dysthymic disorder, a persistent depressive disorder characterized by long-term low mood. Melitracen HCl helps patients achieve a more stable emotional state and improve their quality of life.

Melitracen HCl is used to treat generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), helping to reduce excessive worry and anxiety, effectively managing anxiety symptoms without the need for additional antianxiety medications. Used to treat panic disorder, helping to control panic attacks and reducing their frequency and severity. Its balanced pharmacological effects allow it to be used in anxiety-related disorders.

Melitracen HCl is effective in treating psychosomatic disorders, in which physical symptoms are related to psychological factors. Melitracen HCl helps relieve physical symptoms by addressing the underlying emotional disorder.

Melitracen HCl is used as part of the treatment of functional gastrointestinal disorders such as irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) to help relieve symptoms by reducing anxiety and improving mood.

Melitracen HCl is often used in combination with anxiolytics such as alprazolam to enhance treatment, especially for patients with mixed anxiety-depression. This combination has a synergistic effect and improves patient outcomes more effectively than monotherapy. Melitracen HCl is sometimes used in combination with antipsychotics to treat mood disorders with psychotic features.

Melitracen HCl also has off-label uses, such as being studied for neuropathic pain management. While not its primary indication, its effects on neurotransmitter regulation can help relieve chronic pain conditions associated with nerve damage. Melitracen HCl can be used as an option for migraine prevention. Its ability to stabilize mood and affect neurotransmitter levels can help reduce the frequency and severity of migraines.

References

2020. Cytotoxic Profiling of Annotated and Diverse Chemical Libraries Using Quantitative High-Throughput Screening. SLAS Discovery: Advancing Life Sciences R & D, 25(1), 94-109.
DOI: 10.1177/2472555219873068

2008. Validated Liquid-Liquid Extraction and LC-ESI-MS Method for the Determination of Melitracen in Human Plasma. Chromatographia, 67(9-10), 763-768.
DOI: 10.1365/s10337-008-0619-1

2007. Validation of a sensitive LC/MS/MS method for simultaneous quantitation of flupentixol and melitracene in human plasma. Journal of Pharmaceutical and Biomedical Analysis, 45(5), 766-772.
DOI: 10.1016/j.jpba.2007.07.022