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Carnosine derivatives: new multifunctional drug-like molecules

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Abstract

Carnosine (β-alanyl-l-histidine) is an endogenous dipeptide widely and abundantly distributed in the muscle and nervous tissues of several animal species. Many functions have been proposed for this compound because of its antioxidant and metal ion-chelator properties. Many potential therapeutic properties have been recognized especially related to the antioxidant activity, but the therapeutic uses are strongly limited by the mechanism governing its homeostasis. This fact has been the main reason for developing the synthesis of carnosine derivatives with interesting potentiality, but until now there have been very few applications. These derivatives could represent the future drugs for many pathologies related to oxidative stress and metal ion dyshomeostasis.

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Acknowledgments

We thank all the co-workers, whose names are listed in the references for their contribution to this research. We thank MIUR [2008R23Z7 K, PRIN 2008F5A3AF_005, FIRB2011_RBAP114AMK and RBNE08HWLZ (Merit)] for financial support.

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The authors declare no conflict of interest.

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  1. Department of Chemical Sciences, University of Catania, Viale A. Doria 6, 95125, Catania, Italy

    Francesco Bellia, Graziella Vecchio & Enrico Rizzarelli

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  1. Francesco Bellia
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  2. Graziella Vecchio
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Correspondence to Graziella Vecchio.

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Bellia, F., Vecchio, G. & Rizzarelli, E. Carnosine derivatives: new multifunctional drug-like molecules. Amino Acids 43, 153–163 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00726-011-1178-6

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