Carnosine analogues containing NO-donor substructures: Synthesis, physico-chemical characterization and preliminary pharmacological profile

► We synthesized and evaluated carnosine nitrooxy derivatives as antioxidant and organ protective agents. ► New compounds showed multifactorial antioxidant activity in vitro. ► Both NO and des-NO carnosine derivatives protect from ischaemia/reperfusion injury in vivo. ► One model NO-donor carnosine derivative was able to lower TNF-α in vivo.