Ornithine is an amino acid commonly found as a component in total parenteral nutrition. Produced during the urea cycle, ornithine is an amino acid produced from the splitting off of urea from arginine.
- Mechanism
- Curator reviewed
L-Ornithine is metabolised to L-arginine. L-arginine stimulates the pituitary release of growth hormone. Burns or other injuries affect the state of L-arginine in tissues throughout the body. As De novo synthesis of L-arginine during these conditions is usually not sufficient for normal immune function, nor for normal protein synthesis, L-ornithine may have immunomodulatory and wound-healing activities under these conditions (by virtue of its metabolism to L-arginine).
- Primary indication
- Used for nutritional supplementation, also for treating dietary shortage or imbalance.Curator reviewed · 2 structured indications
- Formula / weight
- C5H12N2O2 · 132.161 g/mol (avg)
- First approval
- Canada, 2014
- Also known as
- (S)-ornithine · L-Ornithine · levo-ornithine
- Brand names
Resolves to
AHLPHDHHMVZTML-BYPYZUCNSA-NSMILESNCCC[C@H](N)C(O)=OWhat you can answer from here — as of September 23, 2026
Which drugs share a target with Ornithine, and which of those have an active Phase 3 trial?
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