Pharmacological effects of reduced glutathione

Glutathione is a tripeptide composed of glutamic acid, cysteine, and glycine. It serves as a cofactor for glyceroaldehyde dehydrogenase, as well as a coenzyme for glyoxylate dehydrogenase and phosphoglycerate dehydrogenase. It participates in the tricarboxylic acid cycle and glucose metabolism in the body, providing the body with high energy. Glutathione can activate various enzymes, such as thiol (- SH) enzymes and coenzymes, in the body, thereby promoting carbohydrate, fat, and protein metabolism. It can also affect cellular metabolic processes and is an important regulatory metabolite in cells. In addition, glutathione exists in two forms in the body: reduced glutathione (GSH) and oxidized glutathione (GSSG). Its active ingredient is reduced glutathione, which can participate in the redox process in the body. Under the action of glutathione transferase, reduced glutathione can bind with peroxides and free radicals to counteract the damage of antioxidants to thiol groups, protect proteins and enzymes containing thiol groups in the cell membrane from damage, and counteract the damage of free radicals to important organs. Glutathione is widely present in animal and plant cells, with higher levels in the liver and lens. Now it can be produced by chemical synthesis or fermentation methods. Glutathione is the cofactor of glyceraldehyde phosphate dehydrogenase, as well as the coenzyme of glyoxal enzyme and phosphoglyceraldehyde dehydrogenase. It participates in the tricarboxylic acid cycle and glucose metabolism in the body, providing high energy for the human body. It can activate and protect various enzymes, such as acetylcholinesterase and other thiol (- SH) enzymes in the body, protecting the body from harmful substances such as iodoacetic acid, mustard gas, free radicals (such as superoxide anions), heavy metals (such as mercury and lead), epoxides, etc., thereby promoting carbohydrate, fat, and protein metabolism, and also affecting cellular metabolic processes. Promote the metabolism of eye tissue, inhibit the instability of crystal protein thiol groups, prevent the development of cataracts and retinal diseases, and therefore can be used for keratitis, corneal trauma, etc. Regular use of these antioxidants should be started before entering old age to prevent such diseases. At the same time, it also has a good effect on increasing vision.
pharmacokinetics
Reduced glutathione is a physiological factor with a wide range of physiological functions. It is synthesized in the cytoplasm, especially in the liver, and its metabolism is mainly in the liver. It is widely distributed in various organs of the body and plays an important role in maintaining cellular biological functions. Animal pharmacological experiments suggest that the blood concentration of reduced glutathione reaches its peak 5 hours after intravenous injection, and can be measured in tissues such as liver, kidney, and muscle 1 hour after injection. Small doses have also been found in the brain, with a half-life of 24 hours. It is mainly excreted from the kidneys and cleared through two mechanisms: direct filtration by the glomerulus and non filtration by the use of gamma glutamine transpeptides.