1.0 2010-04-08 22:06:07 UTC 2025-11-18 22:55:26 UTC FDB004181 Lithium Lithium (Li) is an alkali metal. First described as a mood stabilizer in 1949, it remains an efficacious treatment for bipolar disorders. Recent emerging evidence of its neuroprotective and neurogenic effects alludes to lithium's potential therapeutic use in stroke and neurodegenerative diseases. One intriguing clinical application is in the treatment of Alzheimer's disease. Ongoing clinical trials are evaluating lithium's abilities to lower tau and beta-amyloid levels in cerebrospinal fluid in Alzheimer's patients. Lithium reduces brain inositol levels by inhibiting the enzyme inositol monophosphatase. This suggests that inositol monophosphatase inhibition is a key mechanism of Li's therapeutic action and that design of new inositol monophosphatase inhibitors may be a practical strategy to create new compounds with Li-like therapeutic effects. Lithium reduces the severity of some behavioral complications of Alzheimer's disease (AD). And there are growing indications that Li may be of benefit to the underlying pathology of AD, as well as an array of other common CNS disorders, including stroke, Parkinson's disease, and Huntington's disease. Physiologically, it exists as an ion in the body. Despite these demonstrated and prospective therapeutic benefits, Li's mechanism of action remains elusive, and opinions differ regarding the most relevant molecular targets. Lithium inhibits several enzymes; significant among these are inositol monophosphatase (IMPase), glycogen synthase kinase-3 (GSK-3), and the proteasome. Lithium has a narrow therapeutic range, and several well characterised adverse effects limit the potential usefulness of higher doses. Acute ingestion in Li-naive patients is generally associated with only short-lived exposure to high concentrations, due to extensive distribution of Li throughout the total body water compartment. Conversely, chronic toxicity and acute-on-therapeutic ingestion are associated with prolonged exposure to higher tissue concentrations and, therefore, greater toxicity. Lithium toxicity may be life threatening, or result in persistent cognitive and neurological impairment. Therefore, enhanced Li clearance has been explored as a means of minimizing exposure to high tissue concentrations. Although haemodialysis is highly effective in removing circulating Li, serum concentrations often rebound so repeated or prolonged treatment may be required. Continuous arteriovenous haemodiafiltration and continuous venovenous haemodiafiltration increase Li clearance, albeit to a lesser extent than haemodialysis, and are more widely accessible. Lithium reduces brain inositol levels by inhibiting IMPase, suggesting that IMPase's inhibition is a key mechanism of Li's therapeutic action and that design of new IMPase inhibitors may be a practical strategy to create new compounds with Li-like therapeutic effects. (PMID: 17688381, 17316163, 8110911, 17288494). Lithium is found in many foods, some of which are endive, yellow zucchini, romaine lettuce, and common bean. Apo-lithium carbonate Apo-lithium carbonate SR Carbolith Cap 150mg Carbolith Cap 300mg Carbolith Capsules 600mg Eskalith Eskalith CR LI Li(+) Li(+) cation Li(+) ion Li+ Lithane Lithium atom Lithium benziocum Lithium carbonate Lithium carbonicum Lithium cation Lithium citrate Lithium element Lithium ion Lithium, ion Lithium, ion (Li1+) lithium(+1) cation lithium(1+) lithium(1+) ion Lithium(I) cation Lithobid Pal-lithium carbonate PHL-lithium carbonate Pms-Lithium Carbonate - Cap 150mg Pms-Lithium Carbonate - Cap 300mg Pms-Lithium Carbonate - Cap 600mg Pms-Lithium Citrate Syr 8mmo/5ml Li 6.941 7.016004049 lithium lithium 7439-93-2 [Li] InChI=1S/Li WHXSMMKQMYFTQS-UHFFFAOYSA-N belongs to the class of inorganic compounds known as homogeneous alkali metal compounds. These are inorganic compounds containing only metal atoms,with the largest atom being a alkali metal atom. Homogeneous alkali metal compounds Inorganic compounds Homogeneous metal compounds Homogeneous alkali metal compounds Homogeneous alkali metal alkali metal atom Solid melting_point 190 oC logp 0 ChemAxon iupac lithium ChemAxon average_mass 6.941 ChemAxon mono_mass 7.016004049 ChemAxon smiles [Li] ChemAxon formula Li ChemAxon inchi InChI=1S/Li ChemAxon inchikey WHXSMMKQMYFTQS-UHFFFAOYSA-N ChemAxon polar_surface_area 0 ChemAxon refractivity 0 ChemAxon polarizability 1.78 ChemAxon rotatable_bond_count 0 ChemAxon acceptor_count 0 ChemAxon donor_count 0 ChemAxon physiological_charge 0 ChemAxon formal_charge 0 ChemAxon Specdb::MsMs 89790 Specdb::MsMs 89791 Specdb::MsMs 89792 Specdb::MsMs 152784 Specdb::MsMs 152785 Specdb::MsMs 152786 HMDB05949 30145 LI #<Reference:0x000055ce3252d798> #<Reference:0x000055ce3252d5b8> #<Reference:0x000055ce3252d338> #<Reference:0x000055ce3252d158> #<Reference:0x000055ce3252cf78> Anatidae Type 1 specific Anatidae 8830 Apple Type 1 specific Malus pumila 283210 0.0108 0.0108 0.0108 mg/100 g Asparagus Type 1 specific Asparagus officinalis 4686 0.048 0.048 0.048 mg/100 g Beefalo Type 1 specific Bos taurus X Bison bison 297284 Bison Type 1 specific Bison bison 9901 Broccoli Type 1 specific Brassica oleracea var. italica 36774 0.004599 0.005048933 0.00414832 mg/100 g Buffalo Type 1 specific Bubalus bubalis 89462 Cabbage Type 1 specific Brassica oleracea var. capitata 3716 0.084 0.084 0.084 mg/100 g Carrot Type 1 specific Daucus carota ssp. sativus 79200 0.021 0.0415 0.0005 mg/100 g Cattle (Beef, Veal) Type 1 specific Bos taurus 9913 Chicken Type 1 specific Gallus gallus 9031 Columbidae (Dove, Pigeon) Type 1 specific Columbidae 8930 Common bean Type 1 specific Phaseolus vulgaris 3885 0.13755 0.1458 0.1293 mg/100 g Common grape Type 1 specific Vitis vinifera 29760 0.0198 0.0198 0.0198 mg/100 g Common thyme Type 1 specific Thymus vulgaris 49992 0.4 0.4 0.4 mg/100 g Corn Type 1 specific Zea mays 4577 0.0134 0.0134 0.0134 mg/100 g Cow milk, pasteurized, vitamin A + D added, 0% fat Type 2 specific Cow milk, pasteurized, vitamin A + D added, 1% fat Type 2 specific Cow milk, pasteurized, vitamin A + D added, 2% fat Type 2 specific Cow milk, pasteurized, vitamin D added, 3.25% fat Type 2 specific Cucumber Type 1 specific Cucumis sativus 3659 0.010976 0.0398 0.0012 mg/100 g Deer Type 1 specific Cervidae 9850 Dill Type 1 specific Anethum graveolens 40922 0.007 0.0078 0.0062 mg/100 g Domestic goat Type 1 specific Capra aegagrus hircus 9925 Domestic pig Type 1 specific Sus scrofa domestica 9825 Eggplant Type 1 specific Solanum melongena 4111 0.01525 0.03 0.0005 mg/100 g Elk Type 1 specific Cervus canadensis 1574408 Emu Type 1 specific Dromaius novaehollandiae 8790 Endive Type 1 specific Cichorium endivia 114280 0.088 0.088 0.088 mg/100 g European plum Type 1 specific Prunus domestica 3758 0.0384 0.0384 0.0384 mg/100 g European rabbit Type 1 specific Oryctolagus 9984 Flaxseed Type 1 specific Linum usitatissimum 4006 Garden onion Type 1 specific Allium cepa 4679 0.009403 0.0238 0.002187559 mg/100 g Garden tomato Type 1 specific Solanum lycopersicum 4081 0.0003 0.0003 0.0003 mg/100 g Garden tomato (var.) Type 1 specific Solanum lycopersicum var. lycopersicum 397755 0.048 0.048 0.048 mg/100 g Garlic Type 1 specific Allium sativum 4682 0.00085 0.0009 0.0008 mg/100 g Green bell pepper Type 1 specific Capsicum annuum 4072 0.014767 0.0342 0.0049 mg/100 g Green zucchini Type 1 specific Cucurbita pepo var. cylindrica 0.00052 0.000527133 0.000512489 mg/100 g Greylag goose Type 1 specific Anser anser 8843 Guinea hen Type 1 specific Numida meleagris 8996 Horse Type 1 specific Equus caballus 9796 Italian sweet red pepper Type 1 specific Capsicum annuum 4072 0.00095 0.001 0.0009 mg/100 g Japanese pumpkin Type 1 specific Cucurbita maxima 3661 0.00075 0.0009 0.0006 mg/100 g Lettuce Type 1 specific Lactuca sativa 4236 0.1335 0.1335 0.1335 mg/100 g Mallard duck Type 1 specific Anas platyrhynchos 8839 Milk (Cow) Type 2 specific 69.692941 172.886 3.0 uM Mountain hare Type 1 specific Lepus timidus 62621 Mule deer Type 1 specific Odocoileus 9871 Muskmelon Type 1 specific Cucumis melo 3656 0.0394 0.0394 0.0394 mg/100 g Orange bell pepper Type 1 specific Capsicum annuum 4072 0.012527 0.0342 0.001538996 mg/100 g Ostrich Type 1 specific Struthio camelus 8801 Parsley Type 1 specific Petroselinum crispum 4043 0.0776 0.0776 0.0776 mg/100 g Parsnip Type 1 specific Pastinaca sativa 4041 0.001026 0.001088435 0.000964182 mg/100 g Peach Type 1 specific Prunus persica 3760 0.033 0.033 0.033 mg/100 g Pear Type 1 specific Pyrus communis 23211 0.01225 0.01225 0.01225 mg/100 g Pepper Type 1 specific Capsicum annuum 4072 0.0342 0.0342 0.0342 mg/100 g Pepper (C. frutescens) Type 1 specific Capsicum annuum var. annuum 40321 Pheasant Type 1 specific Phasianus colchicus 9054 Potato Type 1 specific Solanum tuberosum 4113 0.007233 0.0192 0.001 mg/100 g Quail Type 1 specific Phasianidae 9005 Rabbit Type 1 specific Leporidae 9979 Red beetroot Type 1 specific Beta vulgaris var. rubra 0.030133 0.048 0.0207 mg/100 g Red bell pepper Type 1 specific Capsicum annuum 4072 0.012473 0.0342 0.001379091 mg/100 g Rock ptarmigan Type 1 specific Lagopus muta 64668 Romaine lettuce Type 1 specific Lactuca sativa L. var. longifolia 0.007953 0.010367146 0.0037 mg/100 g Sheep (Mutton, Lamb) Type 1 specific Ovis aries 9940 Spinach Type 1 specific Spinacia oleracea 3562 0.0091 0.0092 0.009 mg/100 g Squab Type 1 specific Columba 8931 Sunburst squash (pattypan squash) Type 1 specific Cucurbita pepo var. clypeata 0.000648 0.000763532 0.0005 mg/100 g Sweet orange Type 1 specific Citrus sinensis 2711 0.0824 0.0824 0.0824 mg/100 g Turkey Type 1 specific Meleagris gallopavo 9103 Turnip Type 1 specific Brassica rapa var. rapa 51350 0.0012 0.0013 0.0011 mg/100 g Velvet duck Type 1 specific Melanitta fusca 371864 White cabbage Type 1 specific Brassica oleracea L. var. capitata L. f. alba DC. 0.028933 0.084 0.0011 mg/100 g Wild boar Type 1 specific Sus scrofa 9823 Wild carrot Type 1 specific Daucus carota 4039 0.0415 0.0415 0.0415 mg/100 g Yellow bell pepper Type 1 specific Capsicum annuum 4072 0.012764 0.0342 0.001893115 mg/100 g Yellow zucchini Type 1 specific Cucurbita pepo var. cylindrica 0.00075 0.0008 0.0007 mg/100 g Catenin beta-1 P35222 CTNNB1 Glycogen synthase kinase-3 beta P49841 GSK3B Anti depressant 223 Any substance introduced into a living organism with therapeutic or diagnostic purpose. Anti hyperthyroid 353 Any substance introduced into a living organism with therapeutic or diagnostic purpose. Anti premenstrual syndrome 534 Any substance introduced into a living organism with therapeutic or diagnostic purpose. Anti psychotic 564 Antipsychotic drugs are agents that control agitated psychotic behaviour, alleviate acute psychotic states, reduce psychotic symptoms, and exert a quieting effect. Anti-manic 418 Anti-schizophrenic 594 Any substance introduced into a living organism with therapeutic or diagnostic purpose. Anti-viral 689 A substance that destroys or inhibits replication of viruses. Cholinergic 804 Any drug used for its actions on cholinergic systems. Included here are agonists and antagonists, drugs that affect the life cycle of acetylcholine, and drugs that affect the survival of cholinergic neurons. Deliriant 866 Natriuretic 1140 Nephrotoxic 1148 A role played by a chemical compound exihibiting itself through the ability to induce damage to the kidney in animals.