Arginine

Scientific Name of Arginine: 2-amino-5-(diaminomethylidene amino) pentanoic acid.

Chemical Compound of Arginine: (C6H14N4O2).

Other Names of Arginine:  L-arginine.

Arginine, or L-arginine, is one of the twenty most common natural amino acids and is considered semi-essential or conditionally essential in mammals, dependent upon the developmental stage of the mammal. 

Infants cannot produce the amino acid, but adults can synthesize it through the urea cycle (the production of the dominant nitrogenous product in mammalian urine).

Origin of Arginine: Arginine was first extracted from lupin seeding in 1886 by Swiss chemist Ernst Schulze (a common flowering plant in northern Europe and North America). 

Since then, it has been found in many dietary sources.

Sources of Arginine: Although many foods are rich in arginine (chocolate, wheat germ, beef, seeds, nuts, pork, etc), many energy drinks have included the substance as an ingredient. 

Pure L-arginine can be found in dietary supplement stores in pill form as well.

Home Remedies using Arginine:

Benefits and Uses of Arginine:

Arginine is essential in cell division, as well as the removal of ammonia from the body, release of hormones, the healing of wounds, and the buildup of immune functions. 

Arginine is also essential for the synthesis of creatine and can be used to produce citrulline and glutamate. 

It is a precursor of urea, nitric oxide, and agmatine.

In combination with pycnogenol or yohimbine, arginine has been used to treat erectile dysfunction. 

It is used for vasodilation because it is a precursor of nitric oxide, which relaxes the blood vessels, allowing them to expand.

Side Effects of Arginine:

In patients who suffer heart attacks and use L-arginine as a supplement during their recovery, a link between the supplement and increased rate of death has been discovered. 

The substance also increases the production of growth hormone. 

Some sources claim that arginine assists in releasing prolactin, an estrogenic compound in association with lactation; that may curb the secretion of testosterone.