N-acetyl-L-citrulline

N-acetyl-L-citrulline is an acetylated derivative of L-citrulline, a non-proteinogenic amino acid involved in the urea cycle and nitric oxide (NO) production. As a supplement or experimental compound, it is converted in the body to L-citrulline and subsequently to L-arginine, which serves as a precursor for NO synthesis. Nitric oxide plays key roles in vascular relaxation, immune modulation, and neurotransmission. N-acetyl-L-citrulline has been studied for its potential to enhance immunity via NO generation and has shown binding affinity to viral proteases such as SARS-CoV-2 main protease in molecular docking studies[3][5][6]. Its primary mechanism involves participation in alternative arginine biosynthesis pathways.

Other names

N-acetylcitrullineacetylcitrulline