What is 5-HTP?

    Last Updated: May 16, 2025

    5-HTP is an amino acid that serves as a precursor to serotonin and is produced in the body from tryptophan. It can be supplemented directly, and Griffonia simplicifolia seeds are a common source for its extraction.

    5-HTP is an amino acid and a precursor to the neurotransmitter serotonin. It is produced in the body from the essential amino acid tryptophan, and it can be supplemented directly. Plants are a rich source of 5-HTP, and Griffonia simplicifolia seeds are often used for the extraction and the commercial production of 5-HTP.[1]