Benzofuranylpropylaminopentane (BPAP, (-)-BPAP,[1] BFPAPn, or BFPAP) is a monoamine-release potentiating agent with an unique mode of action. It is classified as a stimulant or an antidepressant, although its mechanism of action is extremely different.
BPAP (and another related chemical, PPAP) are catecholaminergic and serotonergic activity enhancers.
This implies that it increases the neurotransmitters dopamine, norepinephrine, and serotonin in the brain via impulse propagation mediated transmitter release. BPAP, on the other hand, only increases the quantity of neurotransmitter produced when a neuron is triggered by receiving an impulse from a neighboring neuron, as opposed to stimulant medicines like amphetamine, which release a torrent of these neurotransmitters in an uncontrolled way.
While both amphetamine and BPAP increase the quantity of neurotransmitters released, amphetamine induces neurons to dump neurotransmitter reserves into the synapse regardless of external input, whereas BPAP does not modify the pattern of neurotransmitter release, but when the neuron would usually release neurotransmitter, a higher amount than normal is released.
Endogenous trace amines phenethylamine and tryptamine, as well as the neuroprotective MAO-B inhibitor selegiline, also have this effect. Yet, although selegiline is a powerful monoamine oxidase inhibitor, BPAP is just a mild MAO-A inhibitor at high dosages and has only an activity enhancer effect at low levels.
BPAP has been proven to have neuroprotective properties comparable to selegiline, and it is being studied for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, and clinical depression.
