L- arginine is a naturally occurring amino acid that's found in food and plays a role in several bodily functions, such as making protein. 1 It's also available in supplement form, and L- arginine benefits include helping those with heart disease, high blood sugar, and excess weight. L- arginine is an amino acid that can be used for various conditions, such as chest pain, erectile dysfunction, and high blood pressure. Learn about its benefits, risks, precautions, and interactions from WebMD. Chemical and physical properties of arginine , structure, formula. What is the use of arginine ? L- arginine is an L-alpha-amino acid that is the L-isomer of arginine . It has a role as a nutraceutical, a biomarker, a micronutrient, an Escherichia coli metabolite and a mouse metabolite. It is a glutamine family amino acid, a proteinogenic amino acid, an arginine and a L-alpha-amino acid. It is a conjugate base of a L-argininium (1+). It is a conjugate acid of a L-argininate. It is an enantiomer of a D- arginine .