5-HTP
5-HTP (5-hydroxy-L-tryptophan) is an amino acid derivative. Most commercial 5-HTP is extracted from the seeds of Griffonia simplicifolia, a West African shrub, using water or water-alcohol, then purified and crystallized to a high-purity powder. Biosynthetic 5-HTP made with engineered microbes and synthetic material are also offered. It is sold as purified 5-HTP (often 98% or more) or as Griffonia seed extract standardized to a lower 5-HTP percentage.
Suppliers sell different products under the same name. Specify the one you need.
Crystalline powder extracted from Griffonia seeds, the most common form.
Extract standardized to a lower 5-HTP percentage, for example 20% to 30%.
Made by microbial fermentation (for example with E. coli or yeast), with source documentation.
Extracts from certified organic seed, offered by a few suppliers.
Compare each result with your own specification when the lot arrives.
Store sealed in a cool, dry place protected from light; 5-HTP can discolor with light and heat. Reseal opened containers. Shelf life and retest date come from the supplier's specification, with assay and impurities repeated at retest.
Record the source (Griffonia seed, fermentation or synthetic), assay and impurity results for each lot. Seed harvests vary, so extract percentage and color can shift between lots; rotate first-expiry-first-out.
Facts from regulators and standards bodies, each linked to its source.
Health Canada's 5-HTP natural health product monograph lists L-5-hydroxytryptophan from Griffonia simplicifolia seed and from whole-cell biosynthesis using Escherichia coli or Saccharomyces cerevisiae.
Source: webprod.hc-sc.gc.ca (opens in a new tab)The EU Novel Food Catalogue entry for 5-hydroxytryptophan (POL-NF-00063), whether chemically synthesized or selectively extracted from Griffonia seeds, gives it the status not yet authorised novel food.
Source: ec.europa.eu (opens in a new tab)The EU catalogue entry for Griffonia simplicifolia (POL-NF-00388) lists the seeds and seed extracts containing up to 30% 5-HTP as not novel in food supplements; other Griffonia seed extracts are considered novel food.
Source: ec.europa.eu (opens in a new tab)This is general information, not regulatory advice. Status differs by country and by how the ingredient is used, so check the rules for your product and market.
Manufacturers and distributors whose own websites say they sell it.
Distributor · City of Industry, CA
California ingredient supplier that sources branded and commodity ingredients for supplement and food makers, from amino acids and vitamins to magnesium L-threonate and a plant-based vitamin D3.
Suppliers are in alphabetical order and none pays to appear. Each claim is checked against the supplier’s own website on the date shown. Ask for the specification sheet and a recent COA before you order, and confirm details with the supplier.
Common forms include purified 5-HTP (98% or more), standardized Griffonia seed extract, biosynthetic 5-HTP and organic Griffonia extract. Ask each supplier for the specification sheet of the exact grade they quote.
Expect 5-HTP assay (HPLC), related impurities, identity and optical rotation, residual solvents, heavy metals and microbiology, each with its method, specification and result for that lot.
Store sealed in a cool, dry place protected from light; 5-HTP can discolor with light and heat. Reseal opened containers. Shelf life and retest date come from the supplier's specification, with assay and impurities repeated at retest.
Health Canada's 5-HTP natural health product monograph lists L-5-hydroxytryptophan from Griffonia simplicifolia seed and from whole-cell biosynthesis using Escherichia coli or Saccharomyces cerevisiae. The EU Novel Food Catalogue entry for 5-hydroxytryptophan (POL-NF-00063), whether chemically synthesized or selectively extracted from Griffonia seeds, gives it the status not yet authorised novel food. The EU catalogue entry for Griffonia simplicifolia (POL-NF-00388) lists the seeds and seed extracts containing up to 30% 5-HTP as not novel in food supplements; other Griffonia seed extracts are considered novel food.
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