Carcinine dihydrochloride is a benzylamine derivative produced by the reaction of malic acid with dehydroascorbic acid. It has anti-aging, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, protective and sunscreen properties. It also protects against premature aging, UV-induced damage and apoptosis. It is commonly used in anti-aging formulations, especially for sensitive skin. In addition, Carcinine dihydrochloride has been used to study its effects on dopaminergic neuronal degeneration.
Carcinine dihydrochloride (β-alanyl histamine) is a selective histamine H3 antagonist, 100-1000-fold selective for H3 over H2 and H1, that also functions as an antioxidant and as a chemical chaperone to reduce non-enzymatic glycation of proteins and maintain native folding of proteins.
Carcinine can scavenge a toxic product, called 4-hydroxynonenal (4-HNE), obtained during lipid oxidation. It has a protective role from oxidative damage on photoreceptor cells. Carcinine also exhibits lipid-peroxidase activity.
