Carnosine (β-alanine-L-histidine) is a natural component, an endogenous histidyl dipeptide discovered in 1900 by russian chemist V.S. Gulewitch that is found at millimolar concentration in the nervous system and in the skeletal muscle of many vertebrates. Probably carnosine is present only in the animal kingdom while it has never been found in fungi, plants or other eukaryotes. It is is a very water soluble compound.

A variety of functions have been attributed to it as a therapeutic agent for many pathological states such as suppressing some secondary complications of diabetes and the consequences of ischemia-reperfusion injury as well as numerous functions including: antioxidant, anti-glycant, reduction of metal ion toxicity, chelator of zinc and copper ions, protection from radiation.

Many in vitro and in vivo studies have shown that exogenously added carnosine can improve muscle contraction, has antioxidant activity, and can quench various reactive aldehydes. Some of these functions probably contribute to the proposed anti-aging activity of carnosine. (1). The causes of aging do not depend on a single factor but on several mechanisms, and carnosine may achieve its anti-aging effects by involving Carbonyl scavenging as an antioxidant neuroprotective strategy (2).

Regarding the ability to interact with the cardiovascular system, carnosine releases calcium, produces contracture, and alters the contractile protein tension response to calcium by acting directly on the ryanodine receptor, a calcium release channel (3).

Carnosine stimulates vimentin expression in cultured human fibroblasts. The oxide-protein-hydrolase protease is co-expressed with vimentin. Carnosine stimulates proteolysis in cultured myocytes and cultured senescent fibroblasts. These observations suggest that carnosine and related structures should be explored for therapeutic potential toward Alzheimer's disease and other neurodegenerative disorders (4).

In cosmetics, carnosine helps prevent cross-linking of skin collagen that leads to loss of elasticity and wrinkles.

Carnosine studies

Molecular Formula: C₉H₁₄N₄O₃

Molecular Weight: 226.23

CAS: 305-84-0

UNII 8HO6PVN24W

EC Number: 206-169-9

DSSTox Substance ID: DTXSID7048615

MDL number  MFCD00005207

PubChem Substance ID 24893178

Beilstein/REAXYS Number: 87671

NACRES: NA.26

Synonyms:

• L-Carnosine
• beta-Alanyl-L-histidine
• L-Histidine, beta-alanyl-

References____________________________________________________________________

(1) Wang-Eckhardt L, Bastian A, Bruegmann T, Sasse P, Eckhardt M. Carnosine synthase deficiency is compatible with normal skeletal muscle and olfactory function but causes reduced olfactory sensitivity in aging mice. J Biol Chem. 2020 Dec 11;295(50):17100-17113. doi: 10.1074/jbc.RA120.014188.

(2) Hipkiss AR, Baye E, de Courten B. Carnosine and the processes of ageing. Maturitas. 2016 Nov;93:28-33. doi: 10.1016/j.maturitas.2016.06.002. 

(3) Roberts PR, Zaloga GP. Cardiovascular effects of carnosine. Biochemistry (Mosc). 2000 Jul;65(7):856-61.

(4) Hipkiss AR. Could carnosine or related structures suppress Alzheimer's disease? J Alzheimers Dis. 2007 May;11(2):229-40. doi: 10.3233/jad-2007-11210. 

Compendium of the most significant studies with reference to properties, intake, effects.

Boldyrev AA, Aldini G, Derave W. Physiology and pathophysiology of carnosine. Physiol Rev. 2013 Oct;93(4):1803-45. doi: 10.1152/physrev.00039.2012.

Boldyrev AA. Carnosine: new concept for the function of an old molecule. Biochemistry (Mosc). 2012 Apr;77(4):313-26. doi: 10.1134/S0006297912040013.

Chmielewska K, Dzierzbicka K, Inkielewicz-Stępniak I, Przybyłowska M. Therapeutic Potential of Carnosine and Its Derivatives in the Treatment of Human Diseases. Chem Res Toxicol. 2020 Jul 20;33(7):1561-1578. doi: 10.1021/acs.chemrestox.0c00010.

Lopachev AV, Kazanskaya RB, Khutorova AV, Fedorova TN. An overview of the pathogenic mechanisms involved in severe cases of COVID-19 infection, and the proposal of salicyl-carnosine as a potential drug for its treatment. Eur J Pharmacol. 2020 Nov 5;886:173457. doi: 10.1016/j.ejphar.2020.173457.

 Bozko M, Drozak J, Malek NP, Bozko P. Dysregulation of Carnosine Metabolism in Progression of Diseases. Curr Med Chem. 2020;27(11):1713. doi: 10.2174/092986732711200423112140.

Sale C, Artioli GG, Gualano B, Saunders B, Hobson RM, Harris RC. Carnosine: from exercise performance to health. Amino Acids. 2013 Jun;44(6):1477-91. doi: 10.1007/s00726-013-1476-2.

Hipkiss AR. Carnosine and its possible roles in nutrition and health. Adv Food Nutr Res. 2009;57:87-154. doi: 10.1016/S1043-4526(09)57003-9. 

Bellia F, Vecchio G, Rizzarelli E. Carnosine derivatives: new multifunctional drug-like molecules. Amino Acids. 2012 Jul;43(1):153-63. doi: 10.1007/s00726-011-1178-6.

Guiotto A, Calderan A, Ruzza P, Borin G. Carnosine and carnosine-related antioxidants: a review. Curr Med Chem. 2005;12(20):2293-315. doi: 10.2174/0929867054864796.

Kim ES, Kim D, Nyberg S, Poma A, Cecchin D, Jain SA, Kim KA, Shin YJ, Kim EH, Kim M, Baek SH, Kim JK, Doeppner TR, Ali A, Redgrave J, Battaglia G, Majid A, Bae ON. LRP-1 functionalized polymersomes enhance the efficacy of carnosine in experimental stroke. Sci Rep. 2020 Jan 20;10(1):699. doi: 10.1038/s41598-020-57685-5.