Carnosine

Carnosine[1]
IUPAC name	(2S)-2-[(3-Amino-1-oxopropyl)amino]-3-(3H-imidazol-4-yl)propanoic acid
Other names	β-Alanyl-L-histidine
Identifiers
CAS number	305-84-0 Y
PubChem	439224
SMILES	O=C(O)C(NC(=O)CCN)Cc1cncn1
InChI	1/C9H14N4O3/c10-2-1-8(14)13-7(9(15)16)3-6-4-11-5-12-6/h4-5,7H,1-3,10H2,(H,11,12)(H,13,14)(H,15,16)
InChI key	CQOVPNPJLQNMDC-UHFFFAOYAL
ChemSpider ID	9001
Properties
Molecular formula	C9H14N4O3
Molar mass	226.23
Appearance	Crystalline solid
Melting point	253 °C (decomposition)
Y (what is this?)  (verify) Except where noted otherwise, data are given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C, 100 kPa)
Infobox references

Carnosine (beta-alanyl-L-histidine) is a dipeptide of the amino acids beta-alanine and histidine. It is highly concentrated in muscle and brain tissues.

Researchers in Britain^[2], South Korea^[3], Russia^[4][5] and other countries^[6][7] have shown that carnosine has a number of antioxidant properties that may be beneficial. Carnosine has been proven to scavenge reactive oxygen species (ROS) as well as alpha-beta unsaturated aldehydes formed from peroxidation of cell membrane fatty acids during oxidative stress.

Carnosine can oppose glycation^[8][9] and it can chelate divalent metal ions. Chronic glycolysis is suspected to accelerate aging.^[10] Carnosine was found to inhibit diabetic nephropathy by protecting the podocytes and mesangial cells.^[11] Because of its antioxidant, antiglycator and metal chelator properties, carnosine supplements have been proposed as a general anti-aging therapy. ^[12]

Some studies have detected beneficial effects of N-acetyl-carnosine in preventing and treating cataracts of the eyes; in one of these, carnosine was found to reduce cloudiness in rat lenses that were exposed to guanidine to cause cataracts.^[13] However, claims that carnosine confers these and other posited ophthamological benefits are, as of yet, insufficiently supported for endorsement by the mainstream medical community; Britain's Royal College of Ophthamologists, for instance, has asserted that neither safety nor efficacy has been sufficiently demonstrated to recommend carnosine's use as a topical treatment for cataracts.^[14]

A small 2002 study reported that carnosine improved on a measure of socialization and receptive vocabulary in children with autism.^[15] Improvement in this study could have been due to maturation, educational interventions, placebo effect, or other confounds that were not addressed in the study design.^[16] Supplemental carnosine may increase corticosterone levels, which can explain the hyperactivity sometimes seen in high doses.^{[citation needed]}

Typical vegetarian diets are thought to be lacking in carnosine, but whether this has a detrimental effect on vegetarians is controversial.

See also

• Carnosinemia
• Anserine
• Homocarnosine
• Acetyl-carnosine

References