Description
Levacecarnine hydrochloride is a nootropic agent structurally related to the natural
substance L-carnitine. It is reported to be useful in the treatment of cognition disorders in the elderly, perhaps due to its weak cholinergic properties.
Chemical Properties
Crystallline powder
Originator
Sigma-Tau (Italy)
Uses
Acetyl-L-Carnitine (ALC) is an important dietary supplement. ALC is a natural substance, present in the human body, especially in muscles, in the brain, and in the male testicles. ALC is the acetylated, high-energy form of L-Carnitine.
Brand name
NICETILE; BRANICEN
General Description
Acetyl-L-carnitine (ALC/ALCAR), a quasi-vitamin is a metabolite of carnitine, present in mammalian plasma and tissues. It is the acetylated form of L-carnitine (LC). ALCAR is used as a dietary supplement. It is present at high level in the hypothalamus.
Biochem/physiol Actions
Acetyl L-carnitine (ALC) plays a vital role in intermediary metabolism and in improving female fertility. The oxidative and metabolic status of the female reproductive system is controlled by ALC. ALC possesses cholinomimetic and anti-inflammatory effects. It controls γ-amino butyric acid (GABA) system. ALC is capable of modifying the rate of glucose usage in the brain. It also possesses a neuroprotective role in the developing brain.
in vitro
the expression of tumor antigen ca-125 in ovarian cancer cells was not affected by alcar. comparing to the control, the growth of skov-3 cells was remarkably decreased when incubated with alcar. the proliferation of skov-3 cells was decreased slightly but significantly when cells were incubated at higher alcar concentrations. in addition, alcar had no effect on the expression of the nerve growth factor receptors on skov-3 or ovcar-3 ovarian cancer cells [1].
in vivo
male flinders sensitive line (fsl) rats and male cd1 mice, exposed to model genetic and environmentally induced depression, respectively, were injected intraperitoneally with alcar 100 mg/kg for 21 days. alcar, as a long-lasting and rapid antidepressant, functioned via the epigenetic regulation of type 2 metabotropic glutamate (mglu2) receptors in fsl rats and in mice. additionally, alcar raised the transcription of grm2 gene encoding for the mglu2 receptor via increasing the levels of acetylated h3k27 bound to the grm2 promoter and gaining the acetylation of nf-kb-p65 subunit. [2].
Purification Methods
Recrystallise the chloride from isopropanol. Dry it over P2O5 under high vacuum. The S-betaine crystallises from EtOH/Et2O with m 145o(dec) and is hygroscopic; it has [] D -19.5o (c 6, H2O). [Krimberg & Wittandt Biochem Z 251 231 1932, Strack et al. Z Physiol Chem 238 191 1936, Beilstein 4 III 1630, 1632.]
References
[1]. engle, d., belisle, j., gubbels, j., petrie, s., hutson, p., kushner, d., & patankar, m. effect of acetyl-l-carnitine on ovarian cancer cells' proliferation, nerve growth factor receptor (trk-a and p75) expression, and the cytotoxic potential of paclitaxel and carboplatin. gynecologic oncology. 2009; 112(3): 631-636.
[2]. nasca, c., xenos, d., barone, y., caruso, a., scaccianoce, s., & matrisciano, f. et al. l-acetylcarnitine causes rapid antidepressant effects through the epigenetic induction of mglu2 receptors. proceedings of the national academy of sciences. 2013; 110(12): 4804-4809.
