[Mechanism of antioxidant action of carnosine].

The comparative study of the antiradical activity of carnosine and vitamin C was carried out by the means of the evaluation of quenching of ESR signals of 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DFPH) and semiquinone radical of alpha-tocopherol. It was shown that carnosine is not able to quench the ESR signals of the stable radical of DFPH and semiquinone radical of alpha-tocopherol. It permits to conclude that: a) carnosine does not interact directly with highly active free radicals; b) carnosine is unable to regenerate the radical of alpha-tocopherol to form the antiradical synergistic couple. The data obtained are consistent with the idea that there is a difference between on the antioxidant mechanism action of vitamin C and carnosine due to the difference in the antiradical activity of these compounds.