L-Carnitine and DNA

L-carnitine (LC) is a quaternary amine that plays a fundamental role in cellular energy production as it acts in the transfer of long-chain free fatty acids from the cytosol to the mitochondria facilitating their oxidation and the production of adenosine triphosphate (ATP). In order to evaluate the antioxidant genotoxic and antigenotoxic activities of LC in mice male mice were used in the experiment and divided into four groups each with seven animals. LC was administered intraperitoneally and lipoperoxidation (LPO) was evaluated using the TBARS method. Antioxidant activity was evaluated using the enzymes superoxide dismutase and catalase. With lower doses of L-carnitine there were increases in SOD and CAT and at higher doses a decrease in these same enzymes was observed suggesting lipid peroxidation based on the TBARS test results. LC at all doses used in the comet assay in blood and liver showed no genotoxic activity; on the other hand it reduced oxidative damage generated by hydrogen peroxide suggesting antigenotoxic action. Therefore this book is intended for biologists geneticists and anyone who uses the comet assay for analysis.