Quinolinic acid

Quinolinic acid is a dicarboxylic acid. It may be prepared by the oxidation of quinoline, either electrochemically, or with acidic hydrogen peroxide.

Quinolinic acid is a downstream kynurenine pathway metabolite of tryptophan. It acts as an NMDA agonist. Quinolinic acid has a potent neurotoxic effect and involved in neurodegenerative processes in the brain, such as in AIDS dementia complex, Alzheimer's disease, Huntington's disease, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, multiple sclerosis and Parkinson's disease. Within the brain, quinolinic acid is only produced by activated microglia and macrophages.

Norharmane, suppresses the production of quinolinic acid, 3OH-kynurenine and nitric oxide synthase, thereby acting as a neuroprotectant. Natural phenols such as catechin hydrate, curcumin and epigallocatechin gallate reduce the neurotoxicity of quinolinic acid, via anti-oxidant and possibly calcium influx mechanisms. COX-2 inhibitors have also demonstrated protective properties against the neurotoxic properties of quinolinic acid, and these COX-2 inhibitors have demonstrated some evidence of efficacy in mental health disorders such as major depressive disorder as well as schizophrenia.

Quinolinic acid decomposes at 185–190 °C by decarboxylation to nicotinic acid.


 * [[Image:Synthesis Niacin I.svg|400px|Synthesis of nicotinic acid from Quinoline]]