Identification of hydrazine in commercial preparations of carnosine and its influence on carnosine's antioxidative properties

Commercial preparations of synthetic carnosine are commonly used by researchers to investigate carnosine's biological functions and potential applications. Our studies on the interaction of synthetic carnosine and aldehydic lipid oxidation products have led to the detection and structural identification of hydrazine, a strong reducing agent. The concentrations of hydrazine in various sources of commercial carnosine were in the range of 0.01-0.20% (w/w). The levels of contaminating hydrazine in commercial carnosine were capable of interfering with the analyses of headspace aldehydes, malonaldehyde, and thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances. Since hydrazine can potentially interfere with lipid oxidation reactions and measurement of lipid oxidation products, it will be necessary to use purified carnosine to reevaluate carnosine's biological and chemical properties. (C) 1998 Academic Press.