A practical reference on research chemical: what it is, how it behaves, what the literature reports, and where the honest uncertainties sit.
This page was last updated on 2026-07-02 and is reviewed periodically as new material appears.
Laboratory samples of SR9009 are typically handled as research chemicals rather than pharmaceuticals. Suppliers usually state that the material is for research use only and not for human or veterinary administration. Storage recommendations generally call for a freezer at approximately −20 °C, protection from light, and a desiccated environment. The solid is often described as a white to off-white powder. Solubility is commonly reported in organic solvents such as dimethyl sulfoxide and ethanol, with low solubility in water.
Analytical identification and purity assessment often use high-performance liquid chromatography with ultraviolet detection or mass spectrometry. Liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry is used to detect and quantify SR9009 in biological matrices, including urine and blood, for anti-doping or pharmacokinetic studies. Nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy can confirm molecular structure. Stability depends on form and storage: the solid is generally more stable than solutions, and repeated freeze–thaw cycles may degrade samples. Purity is typically reported as a percentage from a certificate of analysis.
Regulatory treatment of SR9009 varies by country and context. It is not approved as a therapeutic drug by agencies such as the United States Food and Drug Administration or the European Medicines Agency. Sports authorities list it as a prohibited substance; the World Anti-Doping Agency classifies it among hormone and metabolic modulators. Legal status for personal possession or sale differs across jurisdictions, and some countries may restrict it under analog or research chemical laws. Buyers who seek verified material often rely on independent laboratory testing because online product labels may not match contents.
SR9009 is a synthetic small molecule studied as an agonist of the nuclear receptors REV-ERBα and REV-ERBβ. It is not a steroid, peptide, or natural hormone. In scientific literature, it appears under the code SR9009 and in non-scientific contexts as Stenabolic. The compound was identified through chemical screening efforts aimed at targeting circadian clock components. Its status remains investigational, and no regulatory agency has approved it as a human medicine.
REV-ERB proteins help regulate daily cycles in gene expression, including genes tied to lipid and glucose metabolism. SR9009 binds these receptors and alters their activity in cell and animal experiments. Consequences observed in rodents include changes in skeletal muscle oxidative capacity, blood lipid levels, and exercise performance. The precise chain from receptor occupancy to whole-body effects is still an active area of study. Human responses cannot be assumed from rodent data.
Most published work on SR9009 consists of preclinical studies. It is widely sold as a research chemical, a category that does not imply safety, efficacy, or pharmaceutical-grade quality. Sports anti-doping organizations have listed SR9009 as a prohibited substance, and its presence in an athlete sample can lead to sanctions. Legal status differs by country; in several jurisdictions it is not approved for human consumption and may be treated as an unapproved new drug.
| Property | Value | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Appearance | White to off-white powder | Common supplier description |
| Solubility | Soluble in DMSO and ethanol | Low solubility in water |
| Typical storage | −20 °C, desiccated, dark | For research samples |
| Analytical method | LC-MS/MS | Used for detection and quantification |
| Regulatory status | Prohibited in sport | WADA metabolic modulator class |
Research interest in SR9009 grew from studies of circadian biology and metabolic disease. Preclinical reports describe effects on exercise capacity, muscle metabolism, and blood lipid levels in rodents, but these findings come from controlled laboratory settings. The compound has low oral bioavailability in animals, which limits systemic exposure after swallowing. Investigators often use injected routes in experiments to achieve measurable plasma concentrations. Human clinical data are sparse, no approved therapeutic product exists, and whether animal effects translate to humans remains an open question.
Regulatory and sporting contexts treat SR9009 as a prohibited substance in many elite competitions. Its presence on banned lists reflects concerns about performance enhancement and unknown long-term safety. Analytical chemists have developed methods to detect the parent compound and its metabolites in urine and blood. Literature discussions distinguish between in vitro potency, animal pharmacology, and anecdotal human reports. The latter are difficult to verify because products sold online may lack purity or contain different compounds.
SR9009 is a synthetic small molecule studied as an agonist of the nuclear receptors REV-ERBα and REV-ERBβ, also called NR1D1 and NR1D2. These receptors help regulate circadian rhythms and metabolic gene programs. The compound was developed for laboratory research, not as an approved therapeutic. Its identity is distinct from steroid hormones and selective androgen receptor modulators. Scientific interest centers on how REV-ERB activation changes gene expression in cells and animal models.
At the molecular level, SR9009 binds the ligand-binding domain of REV-ERB and strengthens recruitment of corepressor proteins such as NCoR and HDAC3. This increases repression of target genes, including Bmal1 and other clock-controlled and metabolic genes. In rodent studies, such changes have been linked to altered lipid handling, glucose metabolism, and energy expenditure. The precise chain of events between receptor binding and whole-body effects remains an active area of research. Findings in animals do not automatically translate to humans.
Laboratory studies often administer SR9009 by injection because oral absorption appears poor in rodents. Reported pharmacokinetic properties include rapid metabolism and low systemic exposure after oral dosing. Human pharmacokinetic data are sparse, so absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion in people are not well defined. Some research explores related REV-ERB compounds with improved drug-like properties. Regulatory approval for any REV-ERB agonist as a human medicine has not been granted to date.
=== Synthetic steroids and sterols === A variety of synthetic steroids and sterols have also been contrived. Most are steroids, but some nonsteroidal molecules can interact with the steroid receptors because of a similarity of shape. Some synthetic steroids are weaker or stronger than the natural steroids whose receptors they activate. Some examples of synthetic steroid hormones:
== Biosynthesis == Papaverine is an isoquinoline alkaloid and the early steps in its biosynthesis from tyrosine are well established. The final step is known to be catalysed by the enzyme tetrahydroberberine oxidase, which oxidises (S)-tetrahydropapaverine:
=== 1954 === January 21: The U.S. launches the world's first nuclear submarine, the USS Nautilus. The nuclear submarine would become the ultimate nuclear deterrent. March 8: U.S. and Japan Mutual Defense Assistance Agreement is signed by the United States and Japan. March 13: The KGB is created as the successor agency of the NKVD. April–June: The Army–McCarthy hearings are broadcast on American television, leading to a loss of support for McCarthyism. May 7: The Viet Minh defeat the French at Dien Bien Phu. May 17: The Hukbalahap revolt in the Philippines is defeated. June 2: Senator Joseph McCarthy claims that communists have infiltrated the CIA and the atomic weapons industry. June 18: The elected leftist Guatemalan government is overthrown in a CIA-backed coup. An unstable rightist regime installs itself. Opposition leads to a guerrilla war with Marxist rebels in which major human rights abuses are committed on all sides. Nevertheless, the regime survives until the end of the Cold War. July 8: Col. Carlos Castillo Armas is elected president of the junta that overthrew the administration of Guatemalan President Jacobo Arbenz Guzman. July 21: The Geneva Conference concludes with accords ending French fighting in Indochina but does not resolve the conflict between the two internationally recognized Vietnamese regimes. The country is partitioned into communist North Vietnam and anticommunist South Vietnam, setting the stage for the Vietnam War. July 22: India annexes the Portuguese territories of Dadra and Nagar Haveli.
Sources: en.wikipedia.org
== Receptors == The five melanocortin receptors are seven-transmembrane G-protein coupled receptors with differing ligand affinities, tissue and cell type expression, and downstream functions. MC1R is expressed on melanocytes, macrophages, epithelial cells, endothelial cells, fibroblasts, monocytes and numerous other immune cells, but is also present in brain, testis, and intestine. Its main functions are in melanogenesis and anti-inflammatory signaling. MC2R is expressed in the adrenal cortex and adipocytes and promotes steroidogenesis. MC3R and MC4R are primarily expressed in the brain and regulate energy homeostasis. MC3R is additionally involved in immunomodulation while MC4R has a role in sexual function. MC5R is highly expressed in skin and adrenal glands and has a role in exocrine function. MC2R is activated exclusively by ACTH, whereas the other 4 receptors can be activated by ACTH, α-MSH, β-MSH, and γ-MSH, although the binding affinities differ. For all the melanocortin receptors, binding of an agonistic ligand activates the receptor, leading to dissociation of the G protein and activation of the enzyme adenyl cyclase. Adenyl cyclase then cleaves ATP to generate the second messenger cyclic AMP (cAMP), which in turn activates multiple downstream pathways. There are two known accessory proteins belonging to the melanocortin system which modulate function of the receptors. These are melanocortin-2-receptor accessory protein (MRAP) and MRAP2.
== History == Lidocaine, the first amino amide–type local anesthetic (previous were amino esters), was first synthesized under the name 'xylocaine' by the team of chemist Nils Löfgren in 1943. Inga Fischer is credited for being the first to synthesize it at large-scale in the laboratory. Bengt Lundqvist performed the first injection anesthesia experiments on himself. It was first marketed in 1948 by Astra.
September 18: In Indonesia, the Madiun Affair, an uprising carried out by the People's Democratic Front (FDR), begins led by Musso, of the Communist Party of Indonesia. The uprising ends after three months when the Indonesian army captures and kills most of the rebels. November 20: The American consul and his staff in Mukden, China, are made virtual hostages by communist forces in China. The crisis does not end until a year later, by which time U.S. relations with the new communist government in China had been seriously damaged.
== Cultivation == The plants are propagated by cuttings about 40 to 50 cm (16 to 20 in) long, usually cultivars selected both for yield and quality of fruit. These are tied up to neighbouring trees or climbing frames at distances of about 2 m (6+1⁄2 ft) apart; trees with rough bark are favoured over those with smooth bark, as the pepper plants climb rough bark more readily. Competing plants are cleared away, leaving only sufficient trees to provide shade and permit free ventilation. The roots are covered in leaf mulch and manure, and the shoots are trimmed twice a year. On dry soils, the young plants require watering every other day during the dry season for the first three years. The plants bear fruit from the fourth or fifth year, and then typically for seven years. Harvesting begins as soon as one or two fruits at the base of the spikes begin to turn red, and before the fruit is fully mature, and still hard; if allowed to ripen completely, the fruits lose pungency, and ultimately fall off and are lost. The spikes are collected and spread out to dry in the sun, then the peppercorns are stripped off the spikes.
Sources: en.wikipedia.org
Legality depends on the country and the intended use. In many places it is sold as a research chemical, but sports and medicine regulations restrict it.
Detection commonly uses liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry. This method can identify the compound in urine or blood at low concentrations.
Typical guidance is −20 °C, dry, and protected from light. Solutions should be aliquoted and limited freeze–thaw cycles should be used.
It is a synthetic compound studied as an agonist of REV-ERB nuclear receptors. It is not an approved medicine and has mainly been examined in laboratory and animal research.