Carnosine as an effective neuroprotector in brain pathology and potential neuromodulator in normal conditions.

Carnosine (b-alanyl-L-histidine) is an endogenous dipeptide widely distributed in excitable tissues, such as muscle and neural tissues-though in minor concentrations in the latter. Multiple benefits have been attributed to carnosine: direct and indirect antioxidant effect, antiglycating, metal-chelating, chaperone and pH-buffering activity. Thus, carnosine turns out to be a multipotent protector against oxidative damage. However, the role of carnosine in the brain remains unclear. The key aspects concerning carnosine in the brain reviewed are as follows: its concentration and bioavailability, mechanisms of action in neuronal and glial cells, beneficial effects in human studies. Recent literature data and the results of our own research are summarized here. This review covers studies of carnosine effects on both in vitro and in vivo models of cerebral damage, such as neurodegenerative disorders and ischemic injuries and the data on its physiological actions on neuronal signaling and cerebral functions. Besides its antioxidant and homeostatic properties, new potential roles of carnosine in the brain are discussed.

[Lipoilcarnosine: synthesis, study of physico-chemical and antioxidant properties, biological activity]. / Lipoilkarnozin: sintez, izuchenie fiziko-khimicheskikh i antioksidantnykh svoistv, biologicheskaia aktivnost'.

Synthesis of lipoilcarnosine (LipC) - a conjugated molecule based on two natural antioxidants, carnosine and a-lipoic acid, is described. Its physico-chemical, antioxidant properties and biological activity are characterized. According to reversed-phase HPLC with a UV detector, purity of the final product was 89.3%. The individuality of the obtained sodium salt of LipC was confirmed by tandem HPLC-mass spectrometry. High resistance of LipC to hydrolysis with serum carnosinase was demonstrated. The antioxidant activity of LipC measured by reaction with the formation of thiobarbituric acid reacting substances and kinetic parameters of iron-induced chemiluminescence was higher than that of carnosine and lipoic acid. LipC did not affect viability of SH-SY5Y human neuroblastoma culture cells, differentiated towards the dopaminergic type, at concentrations not exceeding 5 mM. At the concentration range of 0.1-0.25 mM LipC protected neuronal cells against 1-methyl-4-phenylpyridinium (MPP + )-induced toxicity.