WGX-50 (Lemairamin) — Safety, Research, Risks & Legal Status

Not medical advice. WGX-50 (Lemairamin) is discussed here for informational and harm-reduction purposes only. We do not endorse use, and any dosing context is informational, not a protocol.

Also known as	GX-50, lemairamin, cinnamoyl homoveratrylamine, CAS 29946-61-0
Category	Research Chemical
CAS Number	29946-61-0
Molecular Formula	C19H21NO3 (MW ~327.4 g/mol)
Natural Source	Pericarps of Zanthoxylum bungeanum (Sichuan pepper) and related Zanthoxylum species
Primary Target	Alpha-7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (a7nAChR) agonist
Development Stage	Preclinical only - no registered human clinical trials as of mid-2025
Original Research Group	Prof. Dongqing Wei laboratory, Shanghai Jiao Tong University; subsequent work at Central South University Third Xiangya Hospital
US legal status	Not FDA-approved. No approved Investigational New Drug (IND) application identified in the United States. Sold by chemical suppliers (Sigma-Aldrich, Watson International, Foreverest Resources, and others) as a high-purity (>98%) research reagent for laboratory use only, not for human consumption. Unscheduled and unregulated as of mid-2025, but its unregulated status does not imply safety or legality for human use.

What is WGX-50 (Lemairamin)?

WGX-50 (lemairamin) is a natural aromatic amide alkaloid isolated from the pericarps of Zanthoxylum species, most notably Sichuan pepper (Zanthoxylum bungeanum). Its molecular formula is C19H21NO3 (MW ~327.4 g/mol), with CAS number 29946-61-0. Research interest centers on its activity as an alpha-7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (a7nAChR) agonist, its antioxidant properties, and its ability to suppress ferroptosis. All evidence to date is preclinical - no human clinical trials have been conducted or registered.

How it works

WGX-50 acts via multiple overlapping mechanisms identified in preclinical models. Its primary characterized activity is agonism at the alpha-7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (a7nAChR), a ligand-gated ion channel implicated in neuroinflammatory suppression and neuroprotection. Secondary mechanisms include inhibition of ferroptosis (iron-dependent oxidative cell death) through activation of the EGFR-SLC7A11-GPX4 signaling axis, reactive oxygen species (ROS) scavenging, and modulation of gut microbiota composition. These mechanisms have been characterized in vitro and in rodent models; their relevance to human biology is unestablished.

Background & history

WGX-50 was originally isolated and characterized by Prof. Dongqing Wei's laboratory at Shanghai Jiao Tong University. Subsequent research has been conducted primarily by groups at Central South University's Third Xiangya Hospital (China), with some collaboration from UNC Chapel Hill. The compound derives from Zanthoxylum bungeanum, a plant with deep roots in traditional Chinese medicine as a spice and topical analgesic, though WGX-50 as an isolated molecule is a modern pharmacological subject, not a traditional preparation. Research publications began appearing in peer-reviewed journals in the 2010s and expanded through 2024. It has not been advanced to clinical development by any identified sponsor as of mid-2025.

What the research says

All research is preclinical. In vitro and rodent model studies have examined: (1) cognitive and memory improvement in Alzheimer's disease mouse models, attributed to a7nAChR-mediated reduction of neuroinflammation; (2) reduction of pain hypersensitivity via spinal cord a7nAChR activation in rodent pain models; (3) protection against doxorubicin-induced cardiotoxicity; (4) attenuation of radiation-induced enteritis via ferroptosis suppression and redox homeostasis modulation through the EGFR-SLC7A11-GPX4 axis; (5) attenuation of DSS-induced intestinal inflammation via ferroptosis suppression (published 2024 in International Journal of Molecular Sciences, PMID 39273457). Short-term preclinical toxicity studies in mice at 28-56 mg/kg/day for 4-6 weeks reported no significant toxic reactions, normal organ histology, and normal hematologic parameters - though these findings do not substitute for human safety data. No human clinical efficacy, pharmacokinetic, or safety data exist. No registered trials appear on ClinicalTrials.gov under either "lemairamin" or "WGX-50."

Reported effects

Reduced neuroinflammation in rodent Alzheimer's disease models (preclinical, animal only)
Cognitive and memory improvement in rodent models of neurodegeneration (preclinical, animal only)
Pain hypersensitivity attenuation via spinal a7nAChR activation (preclinical, animal only)
Antioxidant activity - reactive oxygen species scavenging observed in vitro and in vivo (preclinical)
Ferroptosis inhibition via EGFR-SLC7A11-GPX4 axis (preclinical, in vitro and rodent)
Attenuation of radiation enteritis and intestinal inflammation in rodent models (preclinical, animal only)
Modulation of gut microbiota composition (preclinical, rodent; functional significance in humans unknown)

Dosing & administration (informational)

Published preclinical studies in rodents have used doses ranging from approximately 28 to 56 mg/kg/day administered for periods of 4 to 6 weeks in mouse models. These figures are reported here for informational context only and cannot be extrapolated to human dosing without allometric scaling, pharmacokinetic data, and clinical trial validation - none of which exist for this compound. No human dosing protocol has been established. Consult a licensed clinician before considering any investigational compound.

This is general research/context information, not medical advice or a recommended protocol.

Safety & side effects

No human safety data. All toxicity assessments are from rodent studies only.
Mouse studies at 28-56 mg/kg/day for 4-6 weeks reported no significant toxic findings, normal organ histology, and normal blood parameters - but this does not establish human safety.
No comprehensive human pharmacokinetic profile. Absorption, distribution, metabolism, excretion, and half-life in humans are unknown.
No drug interaction studies in humans have been conducted.
Long-term safety profile is entirely unknown.
Not approved by any regulatory agency; use outside of a research context is unsupported by evidence.
General caution: research chemicals sourced from commercial suppliers may vary in purity and carry contamination risks not present in pharmaceutical-grade material.

Drug & supplement interactions

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Who should avoid it

Human consumption outside of formally approved clinical trial settings
Combination with other cholinergic agents without clinical oversight (theoretical interaction risk)
Use in individuals with cardiovascular conditions, given absence of human cardiac safety data
Sourcing from unverified suppliers where purity cannot be confirmed
Use during pregnancy or breastfeeding - no safety data whatsoever
Use as a substitute for approved treatments for any condition, including Alzheimer's disease or chronic pain

How it is commonly combined

No stacking data exist in humans. Preclinical models have not systematically examined combination protocols. No basis exists for recommending co-administration with other compounds.

Legal & regulatory. Not FDA-approved. No approved Investigational New Drug (IND) application identified in the United States. Sold by chemical suppliers (Sigma-Aldrich, Watson International, Foreverest Resources, and others) as a high-purity (>98%) research reagent for laboratory use only, not for human consumption. Unscheduled and unregulated as of mid-2025, but its unregulated status does not imply safety or legality for human use.

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Frequently asked questions

Is WGX-50 approved for any medical use?

No. WGX-50 (lemairamin) has no FDA approval, no approved IND application, and no regulatory approval in any jurisdiction identified in the available literature. It is sold solely as a research reagent.

Has WGX-50 been tested in humans?

No. As of mid-2025, all published research involves in vitro cell studies and rodent animal models. No human clinical trials have been registered on ClinicalTrials.gov or identified in the published literature.

What is the proposed mechanism for potential cognitive effects?

Preclinical studies propose that WGX-50's agonism at the alpha-7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (a7nAChR) reduces neuroinflammation, which in Alzheimer's disease mouse models correlated with improved cognitive and memory performance. Whether this mechanism translates to humans is unknown.

What does the ferroptosis research show?

Rodent and cell studies published through 2024 demonstrate that WGX-50 can suppress ferroptosis - a form of iron-dependent oxidative cell death - through activation of the EGFR-SLC7A11-GPX4 signaling axis. This has been studied in models of radiation enteritis and intestinal inflammation. These are preclinical findings only.

What dosing information is available?

Preclinical mouse studies have used approximately 28-56 mg/kg/day over 4-6 weeks. These figures cannot be applied to humans without clinical pharmacokinetic and safety data that do not yet exist. Dosing guidance for human use requires consultation with a licensed clinician and ideally participation in a formal clinical trial.

Is WGX-50 legal to purchase in the United States?

It appears to be unscheduled and unregulated as a standalone chemical under current US law, and is sold by chemical suppliers as a research reagent. However, unregulated status does not mean it is approved or safe for human use. Importing or consuming it as a drug or supplement would exist in a legally ambiguous space and is not supported by regulatory approval.

References & further reading

PubMed: lemairamin alpha7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor neuroprotection Alzheimer
PubMed PMID 39273457 - Lemairamin WGX-50 DSS intestinal inflammation ferroptosis suppression International Journal of Molecular Sciences 2024
PubMed: WGX50 ferroptosis EGFR SLC7A11 GPX4 radiation enteritis
PubChem CID 1376042 - Lemairamin chemical identification and structure
ClinicalTrials.gov: search lemairamin OR WGX-50 (no registered trials as of mid-2025)