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Details

Stereochemistry RACEMIC
Molecular Formula C7H16NO3.C5H3N2O4
Molecular Weight 317.2952
Optical Activity ( + / - )
Defined Stereocenters 0 / 1
E/Z Centers 0
Charge 0

SHOW SMILES / InChI
Structure of CARNITINE OROTATE

SMILES

C[N+](C)(C)CC(O)CC(O)=O.[O-]C(=O)C1=CC(=O)NC(=O)N1

InChI

InChIKey=MBULCFMSBDQQQT-UHFFFAOYSA-N
InChI=1S/C7H15NO3.C5H4N2O4/c1-8(2,3)5-6(9)4-7(10)11;8-3-1-2(4(9)10)6-5(11)7-3/h6,9H,4-5H2,1-3H3;1H,(H,9,10)(H2,6,7,8,11)

HIDE SMILES / InChI

Description

L-carnitine (L-beta-hydroxy-gamma-N,N,N-trimethylaminobutyric acid) is conditionally necessary for mitochondrial transport and metabolism of long-chain fatty acids, and thus for myocardial energetic metabolism. D-carnitine is not biologically active and might interfere with proper utilization of the L isomer, and so there are claims that the racemic mixture (DL-carnitine) should be avoided. The pharmacological effects of carnitine are stereospecific: L-carnitine was effective in various animal and clinical studies, while D- and DL-carnitine was found to be ineffective or even toxic to some cells and tissues, such as muscle cells and the myocardium. DL-carnitine caused symptoms of myasthenia and cardiac arrhythmias, which disappeared after L-carnitine administration.

CNS Activity

Approval Year

Conditions

ConditionModalityTargetsHighest PhaseProduct

PubMed

Sample Use Guides

In Vivo Use Guide
in rat: supplemented with dl-carnitine (DLC) (1.2 mmol . kg-1. d-1)
Route of Administration: Oral
In Vitro Use Guide
Using rat phrenic nerve diaphragm preparations indirectly and directly stimulated with high rate pulses, D-carnitine (30 and 60 micro M), L-carnitine (60 micro M) and DL-carnitine (60 micro M) were shown to induce tetanic fade (D-carnitine = 19.7 +/- 3.1%, N = 6; L-carnitine = 16.6 +/- 2.4%, N = 6; DL-carnitine = 14.9 +/- 2.1%, N = 6) without any reduction of maximal tetanic tension. It was shown, that tetanic fade induced by L- and DL-carnitine was antagonized by choline (60 micro M).