Quick Facts
| CAS Number | 58-63-9 |
|---|---|
| Molecular Formula | C10H12N4O5 |
| Molecular Weight | 268.23 |
| Pharmacopoeia | USP/EP/CP |
| Packaging | 25 KG/DRUM |
Product Overview
Inosine is one of the oldest known nucleosides, first isolated in 1847 by the German chemist Justus von Liebig from meat extract — making it one of the earliest purine compounds ever characterized. Its structure — hypoxanthine (a purine base) linked to D-ribose (a pentose sugar) through a beta-N9-glycosidic bond — was not fully elucidated until the mid-20th century, when the broader framework of nucleotide biochemistry was established. Inosine occupies a uniquely central position in metabolism: it is the universal intermediate that connects the degradation of purine nucleotides with their re-synthesis through the salvage pathway, and it serves as the direct precursor to inosine monophosphate (IMP), the branch-point from which both adenosine (AMP) and guanosine (GMP) nucleotides are synthesized.
The biochemical significance of inosine lies in its role as a metabolic precursor to ATP — the cell's primary energy currency. Tissues with high energy demands (skeletal muscle, cardiac muscle, neurons) maintain an active purine salvage pathway that converts inosine → IMP → AMP → ADP → ATP. This salvage route is energetically far more efficient than de novo purine synthesis, which requires six enzymatic steps and consumes significant amounts of amino acids and energy. For this reason, inosine has been investigated for decades as a potential therapeutic agent for conditions involving cellular energy deficit — cardiac ischemia, stroke, and intense physical exercise — though its clinical role in human medicine remains as a dietary supplement ingredient rather than a pharmaceutical active.
In commercial practice, inosine is produced at industrial scale by microbial fermentation using genetically engineered strains of Bacillus subtilis or Escherichia coli. The fermentation converts glucose into inosine through the purine biosynthetic pathway, with specific genetic knockouts to prevent further metabolism of inosine to hypoxanthine or IMP. China dominates global inosine production, with major manufacturing bases in Henan Province (home to Xinxiang Tuoxin Pharmaceutical, one of the world's largest nucleoside producers) and Shandong Province. The market is structured in two tiers: food/pharma-grade inosine (>98% purity, USP/EP compliant) for dietary supplements and pharmaceutical applications, and feed-grade inosine for animal nutrition premixes.
As of mid-2026, the global inosine market is driven by three converging trends: (1) expanding use of nucleotide supplements in animal nutrition — particularly for early-weaned piglets and broiler chicks where dietary nucleotides support immune development and gut maturation; (2) growing interest in purine nucleosides as sports nutrition and anti-aging supplement ingredients in the consumer health market; and (3) inosine's role as a fermentation substrate for the production of value-added nucleotides (IMP, GMP) used as flavor enhancers (disodium 5'-inosinate is a key component of umami seasoning). KingWish supplies GMP-certified inosine meeting USP, EP, and CP pharmacopoeia standards.
Quality Specifications
| Assay (HPLC) | 98.0%–102.0% on dried basis, per USP monograph |
|---|---|
| Specific Rotation | +49.0° to +53.0° (20°C, 1% in water) |
| pH (1% Aqueous Solution) | 5.0–7.0 |
| Related Substances | Hypoxanthine ≤ 0.5%; any other individual impurity ≤ 0.5%; total ≤ 2.0% |
| Loss on Drying | ≤ 1.0% |
| Residue on Ignition | ≤ 0.1% |
| Heavy Metals | ≤ 10 ppm |
| GMP Status | Manufactured under ICH Q7 GMP conditions |
Applications
Animal Nutrition
Nucleotide feed supplement for immune enhancement and gut health in early-weaned piglets (0.05–0.1% of diet), broiler chicks, and aquaculture species. Supports growth during stress periods.
Dietary Supplements & Pharma
Sports nutrition formulations for ATP support. Cellular energy and anti-aging supplements. Pharmaceutical intermediate for antiviral and immunomodulatory compounds.
Key Functional Areas
- Energy Metabolism: Purine salvage pathway precursor to ATP — supports cellular energy production in high-demand tissues
- Immune Function: Dietary nucleotide for lymphocyte proliferation and antibody production during stress and immune challenge
- Gut Health: Conditionally essential nutrient for rapidly dividing enterocytes — supports villus development and barrier function
- Industrial Biotechnology: Fermentation substrate for production of flavor-enhancing 5'-nucleotides (IMP, GMP)
Sourcing Inosine: Key Checks
Documentation
Request CoA with HPLC purity data and specific rotation. Verify hypoxanthine content is within limits — this is the primary degradation product. For pharmaceutical-grade, confirm compliance with USP or EP monograph. For feed-grade, verify fermentation organism documentation.
Red Flags
Elevated hypoxanthine (>0.5%) indicates hydrolytic degradation during fermentation or storage. Incorrect specific rotation suggests contamination with other nucleosides. Off-white or yellow color suggests degradation. Non-GMP production for pharma-grade claims.
Packaging & Logistics
Standard: 25 KG/DRUM with moisture barrier liner. Store at room temperature (15–25°C), in a dry place, protected from light. Typical shelf life 24–36 months under recommended storage conditions. Standard lead time 4–8 weeks.
Market Context
Global inosine market driven by animal nutrition nucleotide demand and sports supplement growth. China dominates production with major fermentation capacity in Henan Province. Feed-grade and pharma-grade segments have distinct pricing and quality tiers. Market report