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histamine

Histamine is a naturally occurring 2-(1H-imidazol-5-yl)ethanamine involved in various biological processes and found in foods such as bananas and spinach.
Chemical Structure

General Material Description

Histamine is a biogenic amine chemically known as 2-(1H-imidazol-5-yl)ethanamine, with the molecular formula C5H9N3. It appears as a colorless to pale yellow crystalline solid, possessing an imidazole ring linked to an aminoethyl side chain. Histamine exhibits a characteristic pungent odor and is known for its presence in various natural sources including fruits and vegetables. It is widely studied and referenced in chemical and biological databases, such as ChEBI. This compound is biosynthesized in living organisms through decarboxylation of the amino acid histidine and is found commonly in plants like banana, spinach, and cantaloupe. It is also an important component in natural substances and extractives relevant to food and biological sciences.

Occurrence, Applicability & Potential Uses

Histamine occurs naturally in various plant tissues including banana fruit, cabbage leaves, cantaloupe juice, pea shoots, and spinach plants, as well as sunflower tissue cultures. Its biological occurrence extends to many organisms, where it plays diverse physiological roles. In applied contexts, histamine is primarily studied within the scope of natural substances and extractives. Although it is not used in fragrance or flavoring formulations, it is important in regulatory evaluations such as under the REACH (EU) framework, which monitors substances for safety in industrial and consumer products. The compound’s study aids understanding of food chemistry, natural extract characteristics, and potential toxicity in biological systems.

Physico-Chemical Properties Summary

Histamine exhibits a molecular weight of approximately 111.15 g/mol and features an amino group attached to an imidazole ring, imparting polarity and water solubility. Its estimated water solubility at 25 °C is high, around 1,000,000 mg/L, reflecting its hydrophilic nature. The compound has a logP value of approximately -0.7, indicating low partition into lipophilic phases. The flash point is measured near 357 °F (181 °C), suggesting stability under common laboratory conditions. These physicochemical properties influence histamine’s formulation behavior, making it primarily compatible with aqueous media and limiting volatility under ambient conditions.

FAQ

What is histamine and where is it commonly found?
Histamine is an organic compound classified as a biogenic amine with the chemical name 2-(1H-imidazol-5-yl)ethanamine. It naturally occurs in various plants such as bananas, spinach, cabbage leaves, and cantaloupe. Histamine is biosynthesized from the amino acid histidine in living organisms, contributing to several biological functions. It is also present in tissues of sunflower culture and pea shoots, highlighting its widespread distribution in nature.
How is histamine used and in which industries might it be relevant?
Histamine is mainly relevant in the context of natural substances and extractives, particularly in food chemistry and biological research. Despite its presence in edible plants, it is not approved or recommended for use in fragrance or flavor formulations. Its importance lies in monitoring and regulating natural content within food products and extracts. Regulatory frameworks such as REACH (EU) evaluate its safety profile due to concerns raised from exposure and natural accumulation.
What safety regulations apply to histamine and how is it managed?
Histamine is subject to safety evaluations by agencies including the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) and falls under the REACH (EU) regulation. It is not permitted for use as a fragrance or flavoring agent due to toxicological concerns. Safety datasheets indicate no classified hazards under OSHA guidelines, but toxicological studies report various LD50 values depending on administration routes in animal models. Careful monitoring ensures histamine levels in foods and extracts comply with safety standards to prevent adverse effects.

US / EU / FDA / JECFA / FEMA / Scholar / Patents

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Other Information

(IUPAC):Atomic Weights of the Elements 2011 (pdf)
Videos:The Periodic Table of Videos
tgsc:Atomic Weights use for this web site
(IUPAC):Periodic Table of the Elements
CHEBI:View
CHEMBL:View
Golm Metabolome Database:Search
Metabolomics Database:Search
KEGG (GenomeNet):C00388
HMDB (The Human Metabolome Database):HMDB00870
FooDB:FDB012596
YMDB (Yeast Metabolome Database):YMDB01556
Export Tariff Code:2933.29.5000
MedlinePlusSupp:View
VCF-Online:VCF Volatile Compounds in Food
ChemSpider:View
Wikipedia:View
Formulations/Preparations:
histamine phosphate, usp, & histamine dihydrochloridehistamine phosphate injection, usp, contains 1 mg of salt (0.36 mg of histamine base) in 1 ml. other avail prepn contain 0.275 & 2.75 mg of histamine phosphate in 1 ml (0.1 & 1 mg of histamine base in 1 ml), & are packaged in 1- or 5-ml ampules.

General Material Information

Preferred name histamine
Trivial Name Histamine
Short Description 2-(1H-imidazol-5-yl)ethanamine
Formula C5 H9 N3
CAS Number 51-45-6
Deleted CAS Number 64422-25-9
ECHA Number 200-100-6
FDA UNII 820484N8I3
Nikkaji Number J4.117C
Beilstein Number 0002012
MDL MFCD00005210
Bio Activity Summary External link
NMR Predictor External link
Synonyms
  • 1H-imidazole-4-ethanamine
  • 2-imidazol-4-yl ethyl amine
  • 2-imidazol-4-yl ethylamine
  • 2-(1H-imidazol-5-yl)ethanamine
  • 2-(4-imidazolyl)ethylamine
  • 4-(2-aminoethyl)-1H-imidazole
  • 5-imidazoleethylamine
  • beta-aminoethylglyoxaline
  • beta-aminoethylimidazole
  • beta-imidazolyl-4-ethylamine
  • ergamine
  • ergotidine
  • ethylamine, 2-imidazol-4-yl-
  • imidazole, 4-(2-aminoethyl)-
  • istamina
  • theramine
  • 1H-Imidazole-5-ethanamine
  • Eramin
  • 5-Imidazoleethylamine
  • Imidazole-4-ethylamine
  • β-Imidazolyl-4-ethylamine
  • 4-(2-Aminoethyl)imidazole
  • 2-(1H-Imidazol-4-yl)ethylamine
  • 2-(4-Imidazolyl)ethanamine
  • 2-(1H-Imidazol-5-yl)ethylamine
  • 2-(1H-Imidazol-4-yl)ethanamine
  • NSC 33792
  • 2-(3H-Imidazol-4-yl)ethylamine
  • 2-(1H-Imidazol-5-yl)ethan-1-amine
  • 2-(1H-Imidazol-4-yl)ethan-1-amine
  • 4-Imidazoleethanamine
  • MeSH ID: D006632

PhysChem Properties

Material listed in food chemical codex No
Molecular weight 111.14772796631
Flash Point TCC Value 180.3 °C TCC
logP (o/w) -0.7
Solubility
water, 1e+006 mg/L @ 25 °C (est) Yes

Occurrences

Safety Information

Safety information

Preferred SDS: View
Hazards identification
Classification of the substance or mixture
GHS Classification in accordance with 29 CFR 1910 (OSHA HCS)
None found.
GHS Label elements, including precautionary statements
Pictogram
Hazard statement(s)
None found.
Precautionary statement(s)
None found.
Oral/Parenteral Toxicity:
intravenous-dog LD50 7 mg/kg
CARDIAC: OTHER CHANGES
Indian Veterinary Journal. Vol. 57, Pg. 31, 1980.

intraperitoneal-guinea pig LD50 5 mg/kg
"Structure et Activite Pharmacodyanmique des Medicaments du Systeme Nerveux Vegetatif," Bovet, D., and F. Bovet-Nitti, New York, S. Karger, 1948Vol. -, Pg. 736, 1948.

intravenous-guinea pig LD50 180 ug/kg
Journal of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics. Vol. 95, Pg. 45, 1949.

oral-guinea pig LDLo 200 mg/kg
LUNGS, THORAX, OR RESPIRATION: DYSPNEA
"Structure et Activite Pharmacodyanmique des Medicaments du Systeme Nerveux Vegetatif," Bovet, D., and F. Bovet-Nitti, New York, S. Karger, 1948Vol. -, Pg. 718, 1948.

intraperitoneal-mouse LD50 725 mg/kg
British Journal of Pharmacology and Chemotherapy. Vol. 17, Pg. 137, 1961.

intravenous-mouse LD50 385 mg/kg
BEHAVIORAL: CONVULSIONS OR EFFECT ON SEIZURE THRESHOLD BEHAVIORAL: ATAXIA LUNGS, THORAX, OR RESPIRATION: OTHER CHANGES
Kiso to Rinsho. Clinical Report. Vol. 13, Pg. 89, 1979.

oral-mouse LD50 220 mg/kg
Japanese Journal of Toxicology. Vol. 4, Pg. 105, 1991.

intravenous-rabbit LDLo 2 mg/kg
"Structure et Activite Pharmacodyanmique des Medicaments du Systeme Nerveux Vegetatif," Bovet, D., and F. Bovet-Nitti, New York, S. Karger, 1948Vol. -, Pg. 784, 1948.

intravenous-rat LD50 630 mg/kg
LUNGS, THORAX, OR RESPIRATION: OTHER CHANGES LUNGS, THORAX, OR RESPIRATION: DYSPNEA
Kiso to Rinsho. Clinical Report. Vol. 13, Pg. 89, 1979.

Dermal Toxicity:
subcutaneous-cat LDLo 34 mg/kg
Naunyn-Schmiedeberg's Archiv fuer Experimentelle Pathologie und Pharmakologie. Vol. 185, Pg. 461, 1937.

subcutaneous-dog LDLo 28500 ug/kg
GASTROINTESTINAL: "HYPERMOTILITY, DIARRHEA" LUNGS, THORAX, OR RESPIRATION: DYSPNEA BEHAVIORAL: COMA
"Structure et Activite Pharmacodyanmique des Medicaments du Systeme Nerveux Vegetatif," Bovet, D., and F. Bovet-Nitti, New York, S. Karger, 1948Vol. -, Pg. 718, 1948.

subcutaneous-frog LDLo 1700 mg/kg
"Structure et Activite Pharmacodyanmique des Medicaments du Systeme Nerveux Vegetatif," Bovet, D., and F. Bovet-Nitti, New York, S. Karger, 1948Vol. -, Pg. 718, 1948.

subcutaneous-guinea pig LDLo 8 mg/kg
Farmaco, Edizione Scientifica. Vol. 9, Pg. 379, 1954.

subcutaneous-mouse LD50 2500 mg/kg
BEHAVIORAL: ATAXIA BEHAVIORAL: CONVULSIONS OR EFFECT ON SEIZURE THRESHOLD LUNGS, THORAX, OR RESPIRATION: OTHER CHANGES
Kiso to Rinsho. Clinical Report. Vol. 13, Pg. 89, 1979.

subcutaneous-rabbit LDLo 12 mg/kg
CARDIAC: PULSE RATE INCREASE WITHOUT FALL IN BP LUNGS, THORAX, OR RESPIRATION: RESPIRATORY STIMULATION BEHAVIORAL: ALTERED SLEEP TIME (INCLUDING CHANGE IN RIGHTING REFLEX)
"Structure et Activite Pharmacodyanmique des Medicaments du Systeme Nerveux Vegetatif," Bovet, D., and F. Bovet-Nitti, New York, S. Karger, 1948Vol. -, Pg. 718, 1948.

subcutaneous-rat LDLo 250 mg/kg
AUTONOMIC NERVOUS SYSTEM: OTHER (DIRECT) PARASYMPATHOMIMETIC BEHAVIORAL: CONVULSIONS OR EFFECT ON SEIZURE THRESHOLD
Naunyn-Schmiedeberg's Archiv fuer Experimentelle Pathologie und Pharmakologie. Vol. 185, Pg. 461, 1937.

Inhalation Toxicity:
Not determined

Safety in use information

Category:
natural substances and extractives
Recommendation for histamine usage levels up to:
not for fragrance use.
Recommendation for histamine flavor usage levels up to:
not for flavor use.

Safety references

European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) reference(s):

Scientific Report of EFSA on the risk assessment of salts of authorised acids, phenols or alcohols for use in food contact materials [1]
View page or View pdf

Assessment of the incidents of histamine intoxication in some EU countries
View page or View pdf

EPI System: View
ClinicalTrials.gov:search
Daily Med:search
Chemical Carcinogenesis Research Information System:Search
AIDS Citations:Search
Cancer Citations:Search
Toxicology Citations:Search
EPA Substance Registry Services (TSCA):51-45-6
EPA ACToR:Toxicology Data
EPA Substance Registry Services (SRS):Registry
Laboratory Chemical Safety Summary :774
National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases:Data
WGK Germany:3
2-(1H-imidazol-5-yl)ethanamine
Chemidplus:0000051456
RTECS:MS1050000 for cas# 51-45-6