Carnosine is an endogenous dipeptide abundant in the central nervous system, where by acting as intracellular pH buffering molecule, Zn/Cu ion chelator, antioxidant and anti-crosslinking agent, it exerts a well-recognized multi-protective homeostatic function for neuronal and non-neuronal cells. Carnosine seems to counteract proteotoxicity and protein accumulation in neurodegenerative condition...

Our previous results show that leptin, as well as nitric oxide (NO) and some antioxidants (histidine dipeptides - HDP) change the secretion of gonadotrophins from ovine adenohypophysis cells in vitro. NO and HDP are produced by pituitary and can modulate gonadotropin secretion by autocrine action. It is possible that these compounds mediate leptin influence on gonadotropin secretion. Therefore,...

The aim of this study was to establish the effect of naturally occurring antioxidant carnosine on the doxorubicin induced cardiotoxicity in a rabbit model. For this purpose we evaluated the influence of doxorubicin administration alone and in a combined therapy with carnosine on the haemodynamic parameters and on the degree of cardiac muscle cells alterations in rabbits. The rabbits were divide...

Carnosine is a naturally occurring intramuscular dipeptide that is thought to attenuate fatigue during high-intensity exercise. Carnosine content is influenced by various factors, including gender and diet. Despite research reporting that carnosine content is lower in women compared to men and lower in vegetarians compared to omnivores, no investigations have examined carnosine content in women...

We previously demonstrated that polymorphisms in the carnosinase-1 gene (CNDP1) determine the risk of nephropathy in type 2 diabetic patients. Carnosine, the substrate of the enzyme encoded by this gene, is considered renoprotective and could possibly be used to treat diabetic nephropathy (DN). In this study, we examined the effect of carnosine treatment in vivo in BTBR (Black and Tan, BRachyur...

Human glioblastoma multiforme is the most malignant brain tumor in adults and is difficult to treat. Recently, it was demonstrated that the dipeptide carnosine inhibits tumor growth, but the main molecular targets are not known. Therefore, a proteomics study with glioblastoma cells treated with carnosine was performed. Two-dimensional gel electrophoresis and matrix-assisted laser desorption/ion...

The exercise performance of thoroughbred racing horses is affected by factors such as body weight, muscle type, and nutrition . Carnosine (β-alanyl histidine), a small and water-soluble dipeptide, in the muscle is a factor that contributes to the exercise performance of animals . This peptide and its analogues anserine (1-methyl-carnosine) are present in the skeletal muscles and nervous tissues...

The effects of carnosine and related compounds on erythrocytes from alcoholics were studied. In their presence, erythrocytes showed an increased ability to resist haemolysis and showed a more normal morphology, with carnosine and N-acetyl-carnosine being the most effective compounds. These beneficial properties of the dipeptides do not appear to be directly related to their antioxidant or buffe...


 Carnosine (β-alanyl-L-histidine) was first isolated from meat extracts by Russian scholars in 1900. Carnosine is now recognized as an anti-aging chelator/antioxidant with non-enzymatic free radical scavenging properties and serves as an immunomodulator and neuroprotector molecule. It is a naturally-occurring (endogenously synthesized) dipeptide present in brain, cardiac muscle, stomach, kidne...

Comparative study of hydrolysis of carnosine and a number of its natural derivatives by human serum and rat kidney carnosinase was carried out. The rate of carnosine hydrolysis was 3-4-fold higher then for anserine and ophidine. The rate of homocarnosine, N-acetylcarnosine and carcinine hydrolysis was negligible by either of the enzymes used. Our data show that methylation, decarboxylation or a...