[3] It is produced by the trypanosomal parasite (Trypanosoma brucei) in sleeping sickness (African trypanosomiasis).

[11] It is formed from tryptophan, along with indole-3-acetic acid in rats infected by Trypanosoma brucei gambiense.

[12] An efficient conversion of tryptophan to indole-3-acetic acid and/or tryptophol can be achieved by some species of fungi in the genus Rhizoctonia.

[17] It may be a functional analog of serotonin or melatonin, compounds involved in sleep regulation.

[20] As it is formed in the liver after ethanol ingestion or disulfiram treatment, it is also associated with the study of alcoholism.

[22] The auxinic action in terms of embryo formation is even better for tryptophol arabinoside on Cucurbita pepo hypocotyl fragments.