Acetyl-L-carnitine

Acetyl-L-carnitine (O-Acetyl-L-carnitine; ALCAR) is an orally active mitochondrial energy metabolism regulator and neuroprotectant that can penetrate the blood-brain barrier. Acetyl-L-carnitine selectively enters cells and the brain through the organic cation transporter OCTN2. Acetyl-L-carnitine can participate in fatty acid β-oxidation, promote acetylcholine synthesis, regulate mitochondrial function and inhibit oxidative stress as an acetyl donor. Acetyl-L-carnitine exerts its activity by enhancing energy metabolism, protecting neurons and improving synaptic plasticity. Acetyl-L-carnitine is mainly used in the study of neurodegenerative diseases and metabolic disorder-related diseases such as neonatal hypoxic-ischemic brain damage, Alzheimer's disease, and depression^[1][2][3]. In Vitro:Cell Viability and Apoptosis:
Acetyl-L-carnitine (1 mM; 30 min) significantly inhibits 1 μg/mL Doxycycline (HY-N0565)-induced caspase-3/9 activation, reduces reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation and apoptosis, and maintains glutathione levels in thioredoxin TRX2-deficient DT40 cells^[1].
In Vivo:Acetyl-L-carnitine (100 mg/kg; intraperitoneal injection; once daily; 14 days) significantly alleviates brain damage in the hypoxic-ischemic brain damage (HIBD) model of neonatal rats, improves neurological function, reduced oxidative stress levels, and decreases cell apoptosis^[2].
Acetyl-L-carnitine (300 mg/kg; oral gavage; once daily; 28 days) improves cognitive function in the cognitive impairment model of aged rats, enhances synaptic plasticity in the hippocampus, and increases the expression of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF)^[3].