Carnosine — Cosmetic Peptide Raw Material

Carnosine (β-Alanyl-L-Histidine) is a naturally occurring dipeptide found in high concentrations in human muscle and brain tissue. In skin care, carnosine exerts its anti-aging effects through multiple complementary mechanisms. First, as a potent antioxidant, it scavenges reactive oxygen species (ROS) and reactive nitrogen species (RNS), protecting skin cells from oxidative stress. Second, and most importantly, carnosine is a highly effective anti-glycation agent — it inhibits the Maillard reaction (non-enzymatic glycation) where sugar molecules bind to proteins like collagen and elastin, forming advanced glycation end-products (AGEs) that cause skin yellowing, stiffness, and wrinkle formation. Carnosine also exhibits metal-chelating properties, binding to transition metal ions (Cu²⁺, Fe²⁺) that catalyze oxidative reactions. Additionally, the dipeptide promotes wound healing by stimulating fibroblast proliferation and collagen synthesis, and it helps maintain telomere length in skin cells, contributing to its longevity-promoting effects.