A dipeptide is a peptide that is composed of two amino acid molecules linked by a peptide bond. Anserine is a dipeptide containing β-alanine and 1-methylhistidine and is found in…

Alanine is an amino acid that was discovered in 1875 and is one of the building blocks of protein that combines with histidine to help form carnosine. Alanine elevates carnosine…

There are a great many nutrients and components used by the human body. Energy, which is provided by the fat, carbohydrates and protein in the diet, is needed by the…

Amylase is a digestive enzyme that helps break down carbohydrates into smaller particles and is produced by the salivary glands and the pancreas in the human body. Although most carbohydrate…

Amino acids are the 20 building blocks (molecular units) of protein and act as intermediates in metabolism. All proteins are various compositions of twenty-one specific naturally occurring amino acids. The…

Beta-glucan is thought to have immune stimulating effects as well as the ability to activate certain cells and proteins that attack cancerous cells. It can also fight viruses, inhibit tumour…

As a methyl donor, betaine participates in the methionine cycle primarily in the human liver and kidneys and is a derivative of the amino acid glycine. Betaine increases the water…

Beta-carotene (carotenoid) is one of the deep green, yellow, orange and red pigments that gives vegetables and fruits their rich colours. The name beta-carotene comes from the Greek beta and…

Berberine is a crystalline plant alkaloid used in medicine in a number of cultures for its natural antibiotic activity. The alkaloid is yellow in colour and has a bitter taste.…

The intracellular non-bicarbonate buffering capacity of vertebrate muscle is mainly supported by the imidazole groups of histidine residues in proteins, free L-histidine in some fish species and histidine containing dipeptides…