Neuroprotective potential of carnosine in cerebrovascular diseases

The growing prevalence, the risk of disabilities, and the lack of effective causal or disease-modifying therapies make cerebrovascular disorders a serious burden. Carnosine, an evolutionarily conserved endogenous dipeptide and over-the-counter food supplement, has a wealth of evidence exhibiting potentially neuroprotective effects. It is a natural, multi-functional, non-toxic anti-glycating antioxidant found in high concentrations in human and mammalian muscle and brain tissues. The physiological presence of carnosine in the brain, ability to cross the blood-brain barrier, and evidence from in vitro, and in vivo studies all point to it as a promising neurotherapeutic agent for cerebrovascular disorders. This review is intended to provide a detailed overview of the neuroprotective role of carnosine in cerebrovascular diseases and summarize existing evidence from cell and animal studies.