Glutathione (GSH), as a biologically active tripeptide with strong antioxidant capacity and detoxification function, has a wide range of applications covering pharmaceuticals, functional foods, agriculture and biology.
1. Pharmaceutical field
Liver disease treatment:
Adjuvant medicine for chronic liver disease: glutathione tablets (e.g., Altonmorin) are commonly used in the hepatoprotective treatment of chronic hepatitis B, which can improve liver function, reduce transaminases and promote liver cell repair.
Fatty liver and alcoholic liver disease: Through antioxidant and detoxification effects, it can reduce lipid peroxidation and acetaldehyde damage to liver cells and improve liver metabolic function.
Drug-induced liver injury: to counteract the hepatotoxic metabolites of drugs such as paracetamol and protect the integrity of hepatocyte membranes.
Detoxification and heavy metal poisoning:
Binding heavy metals (such as mercury, arsenic, lead) and toxins (such as acrylonitrile, fluoride), the formation of water-soluble complexes excreted from the body to reduce toxicity.
Used in adjuvant treatment of carbon monoxide poisoning to reduce hypoxic injury.
Tumor adjuvant therapy:
Reduce oxidative stress reaction of chemotherapy and radiotherapy, reduce toxic side effects such as nausea and vomiting, mucous membrane damage.
Combined with cisplatin and other anti-tumor drugs to enhance efficacy and protect normal cells.
Other clinical applications:
Immunomodulation: enhance the activity of white blood cells and improve the state of low immunity.
Skin diseases: topical preparation for chloasma, hyperpigmentation, etc., inhibit tyrosinase activity, reduce melanin production.
Neuroprotection: In the treatment of Parkinson’s disease, the combination of drugs to improve the function of dopaminergic neurons.
2. Functional food and health products
Anti-aging and beauty:
As a “longevity factor”, it scavenges free radicals, slows down cell aging, and maintains skin elasticity and luster.
Whitening products inhibit melanin synthesis and lighten pigmentation.
Enhance immunity:
GSH is added to functional foods to enhance immune cell activity and prevent colds and infectious diseases.
Sports Nutrition:
Help athletes to remove free radicals, reduce muscle damage after exercise and accelerate recovery.
Market Product Forms:
Dietary supplements: tablets, capsules, oral solution, etc. for daily antioxidant and immune support.
Functional Drinks: Drinks with GSH added, claiming to have the efficacy of detoxifying the liver and refreshing the mind.
3. Agricultural and biological fields
Crop resistance enhancement:
Anti-oxidative stress: exogenous application of GSH enhances the ability of crops (e.g. wheat, corn) to resist drought, salinity and high temperature, and improves survival rate.
Promote growth and development: regulate photosynthesis and nutrient absorption, increase yield and improve fruit quality.
Soil remediation and heavy metal pollution control:
GSH complexes with heavy metals (e.g. cadmium, lead), reduces their bioavailability, and decreases the absorption of heavy metals by crops.
Remediation of heavy metal contaminated soil, improve the safety of agricultural products.
Biotechnology and Enzyme Engineering:
Participate in the design of biosensors and biofuel cells as cofactors for enzymatic reactions.
Protect DNA from oxidative damage in gene editing technologies (e.g. CRISPR-Cas9).