Glutathione (GSH) is an important biological molecule.

Basic characteristic

Glutathione is a tripeptide containing gamma-amide bonds and sulfhydryl groups, consisting of glutamic acid, cysteine and glycine.

The thiol group on cysteine is its active group, which makes glutathione have special physiological activity.

Glutathione is mainly found in two forms in vivo: reduced (G-SH) and oxidized (G-S-S-G).

Under physiological conditions, reduced glutathione accounts for the majority.

Glutathione reductase can catalyze tautometry between these two forms.

Physiological function

1. antioxidation

Glutathione is an important antioxidant in the body, capable of scavenging free radicals and protecting sulfhydryl groups in many proteins and enzymes and other molecules from oxidative damage.

This antioxidant effect helps maintain the normal physiological function of cells.

2. Integrated detoxification

The thiol group of glutathione is easy to combine with some drugs, toxins, etc., so that it loses its toxicity and is excreted.

This integrative detoxification helps protect the organism from harmful substances.

3. Boost immunity

Glutathione maintains health and boosts immunity.

In the elderly, glutathione has a greater effect on the retarded cells than in the young.

4. Protective hemoglobin

Glutathione can protect hemoglobin from hydrogen peroxide oxidation, so that it can continue to perform its normal ability to transport oxygen.

5. Protective enzyme activity

Glutathione can protect the -SH group in the enzyme molecule, which is conducive to the play of the enzyme activity, and can restore the activity function of the -SH group in the enzyme molecule that has been destroyed, so that the enzyme can restore the activity.

6. Inhibition of fatty liver

Glutathione can inhibit the fatty liver caused by ethanol.

7. Leukocyte protection

Glutathione has a strong protective effect on the symptoms of leukopenia caused by radiation and radiopharmaceutics.

Medical application

1. Drug therapy

Glutathione has been used as a liver preservative in clinic, which helps to treat hepatitis, hemolytic diseases and so on.

It is also used to treat cataracts and toxic diseases.

2. Functional food

Glutathione can also be used as the base material of functional food, and it is widely used in functional food such as delaying aging, enhancing immunity and anti-tumor.

Detection method

The detection methods of glutathione mainly include spectrophotometry, fluorescence method, enzymatic method and high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC).

Each of these methods has advantages and disadvantages, and which method to choose depends on the specific experimental conditions and needs.