PRL-8-53
NootropicsDiscontinuedAlso known as: PRL 8-53, PRL8-53, Methyl 3-(2-(benzyl(methyl)amino)ethyl)benzoate hydrochloride, 3-(2-benzylmethylaminoethyl)benzoic acid methyl ester hydrochloride
PRL-8-53 is a benzoic acid ester with a benzylmethylamino side chain, first described by N. R.
Overview
At A Glance
Unknown. No target identification, receptor binding profile or mechanistic study has been published for PRL-8-53 in any species. The 1974 report by Hansl described the compound as a spasmolytic and central nervous system active agent and examined it in animal experiments alongsid…
Overview
PRL-8-53 is a benzoic acid ester with a benzylmethylamino side chain, first described by N. R. Hansl in a 1974 note in Experientia that presented it as a spasmolytic and central nervous system active agent studied in animals (PMID: 4824605). It is an outlier among the compounds sold as nootropics: almost everything claimed for it traces back to a single small human study published in 1978, and there has been essentially no follow-up research in nearly fifty years. That 1978 study, by Hansl and Mead in Psychopharmacology, tested the effect of low oral doses on learning and retention of verbal information under double-blind conditions using the serial anticipation method. The authors reported slight improvement of acquisition and statistically significant improvement of retention of verbal information, with most p values better than 0.01 and some better than 0.001, and no significant change in visual reaction time or motor control compared with placebo (PMID: 418433). PubMed indexes it as a randomized controlled trial. It was never replicated, and the widely repeated claim that volunteers doubled their memory comes from secondary retellings of subgroup results rather than from an independent trial. Searching PubMed for the acronym PRL-8-53 returns exactly one record, the 1978 human study. There is no published pharmacokinetic study, no repeat-dose toxicology, no receptor binding profile, no modern animal replication and no registered clinical trial. The mechanism is therefore unknown. The compound is a substituted phenethylamine derivative, and the 1974 report described central activity in animals alongside effects on blood pressure and interactions with apomorphine and methamphetamine, but no target has been identified and no mechanistic paper exists. Any confident mechanistic statement about PRL-8-53, including the frequently repeated claims about dopamine, acetylcholine or GABA, is not supported by published primary literature. The material sold to consumers is the hydrochloride salt, which is what the chemistry values on this page describe; the free base has a molecular weight of 283.4 g/mol (PubChem CID 39989). Purity and identity of the powder on the research chemical market have never been the subject of a published analysis, which matters more for a compound with one 47-year-old study behind it than for one with a modern regulatory dossier. PRL-8-53 has never been approved as a medicine in any jurisdiction, has never entered formal drug development, is not a controlled substance in the United States and has no established safe exposure level in humans. It should be read as a historical curiosity with an unusually strong reputation relative to the evidence supporting it, not as a characterized drug. Anyone weighing the compound should treat the total absence of safety data as the central fact about it.
Potential Research Fields
Chemical Information
IUPAC Name
Not yet available
CAS Number
51352-87-5
Molecular Formula
C18H22ClNO2
Molecular Mass
319.83 g/mol (hydrochloride salt)
Dosing & Protocols
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Research
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Interactions
Contraindications
None established. No toxicology, drug interaction, pregnancy, lactation, hepatic impairment or renal impairment data have been published for PRL-8-53 in humans or in animals. The only human exposure on record is a single 1978 study (PMID: 418433). With no pharmacokinetic profile and no repeat-dose data, there is no evidence base from which to define who should avoid it, which is itself a reason for caution.
Research Disclaimer
This interaction data is compiled from published research and community reports. It may not be exhaustive. Always consult a healthcare professional before combining compounds.
$64.99
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1
1
capsule
| Vendor | Product | Form | Qty | Price | $/mg | Coupon | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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PRL-8-53 capsules (60) | capsule | 60 capsules● In Stock | $64.99BEST | — | — |
Tracking since Sep 7, 2026 · 1 data point
Vendors Selling PRL-8-53
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Related Compounds
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Aniracetam
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Bemethyl (bemitil)
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Bromantane
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Protocols, calculator & safety for PRL-8-53
Research Score
0 PubMed studies
Quality Indicators
Data Completeness
63%Quick Facts
Half-Life
Not established. No pharmacokinetic study in humans or in any animal species has been published for PRL-8-53.
Molecular Weight
319.83 g/mol (hydrochloride salt)
Administration
Oral
CAS Number
51352-87-5
Trial Phase
Discontinued
Research Disclaimer
This information is for educational and research purposes only. Not intended as medical advice. Consult a healthcare professional before use.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is PRL-8-53 used for in research?
PRL-8-53 is a benzoic acid ester with a benzylmethylamino side chain, first described by N. R. Hansl in a 1974 note in Experientia that presented it as a spasmolytic and central nervous system active agent studied in animals (PMID: 4824605). It is an outlier among the compounds sold as nootropics: almost everything claimed for it traces back to a single small human study published in 1978, and there has been essentially no follow-up research in nearly fifty years.
That 1978 study, by Hansl and Mead in Psychopharmacology, tested the effect of low oral doses on learning and retention of verbal information under double-blind conditions using the serial anticipation method. The authors reported slight improvement of acquisition and statistically significant improvement of retention of verbal information, with most p values better than 0.01 and some better than 0.001, and no significant change in visual reaction time or motor control compared with placebo (PMID: 418433). PubMed indexes it as a randomized controlled trial. It was never replicated, and the widely repeated claim that volunteers doubled their memory comes from secondary retellings of subgroup results rather than from an independent trial.
Searching PubMed for the acronym PRL-8-53 returns exactly one record, the 1978 human study. There is no published pharmacokinetic study, no repeat-dose toxicology, no receptor binding profile, no modern animal replication and no registered clinical trial. The mechanism is therefore unknown. The compound is a substituted phenethylamine derivative, and the 1974 report described central activity in animals alongside effects on blood pressure and interactions with apomorphine and methamphetamine, but no target has been identified and no mechanistic paper exists. Any confident mechanistic statement about PRL-8-53, including the frequently repeated claims about dopamine, acetylcholine or GABA, is not supported by published primary literature.
The material sold to consumers is the hydrochloride salt, which is what the chemistry values on this page describe; the free base has a molecular weight of 283.4 g/mol (PubChem CID 39989). Purity and identity of the powder on the research chemical market have never been the subject of a published analysis, which matters more for a compound with one 47-year-old study behind it than for one with a modern regulatory dossier.
PRL-8-53 has never been approved as a medicine in any jurisdiction, has never entered formal drug development, is not a controlled substance in the United States and has no established safe exposure level in humans. It should be read as a historical curiosity with an unusually strong reputation relative to the evidence supporting it, not as a characterized drug. Anyone weighing the compound should treat the total absence of safety data as the central fact about it.
What forms does PRL-8-53 come in?
PRL-8-53 is available in capsule form.
How much does PRL-8-53 cost?
Prices start at $64.99 across 1 verified vendor.
How do I compare PRL-8-53 vendors?
Compare prices, payment methods, shipping, and COA scores across 1 vendor.
Research Tools
Related Compounds
View All9-Me-BC (9-Methyl-β-carboline)
NootropicsPreclinical9-Methyl--carboline (9-Me-BC) is a synthetic -carboline alkaloid that has drawn nootropic-community interest for a preclinical property that is genuinely unusual among -carbolines: in rodent and cell-culture studies it appears to stimulate the dopaminergic phenotype - raising tyrosine hydroxylase, the number of differentiated dopamine neurons and dopamine content - while also showing neuroprotective, neurorestorative and anti-inflammatory effects, plus in-vitro MAO-A/MAO-B inhibition [PMID:17913302, PMID:20374418, PMID:32285253].
Aniracetam
NootropicsApproved (Italy)Aniracetam is a pyrrolidinone in the racetam family, developed by Hoffmann-La Roche under the code Ro 13-5057.
Bemethyl (bemitil)
NootropicsApproved (Russia)Bemethyl, known in the Russian literature as bemitil and sold in the region under names including Metaprot, Bemactor and Antihot, is 2-ethylthiobenzimidazole, normally handled as the hydrobromide salt.
Bromantane
NootropicsRussia ApprovedBromantane is an atypical psychostimulant and anxiolytic developed in the 1980s at the Zakusov Institute of Pharmacology of the Russian Academy of Medical Sciences, originally created as an adaptogen for Soviet military and elite athletic use and later approved in Russia for the treatment of neurasthenic and asthenic disorders under the trade name Ladasten.
Cyclazodone
NootropicsPreclinicalCyclazodone is the N-cyclopropyl derivative of pemoline, a 4-oxazolidinone stimulant.
Dihexa
NootropicsPreclinicalDihexa is a synthetic peptide analogue of the angiotensin IV metabolite LVV-hemorphin-7, developed at Washington State University.
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