CARNOSINE, A PROTECTIVE, ANTIAGING PEPTIDE

Carnosine (beta-alanyl-L-histidine) has protective functions additiona l to anti-oxidant and free-radical scavenging roles. It extends cultur ed human fibroblast life-span, kills transformed cells, protects cells against aldehydes and an amyloid peptide fragment and inhibits, in vi tro, protein glycation (formation of cross-links, carbonyl groups and AGEs) and DNA/protein cross-linking. Carnosine is an aldehyde scavenge r, a likely lipofuscin (age pigment) precursor and possible modulator of diabetic complications, atherosclerosis and Alzheimer's disease. (C ) 1998 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.