The body's most abundant intracellular thiol antioxidant.
Also known as: GSH · gamma-glutamylcysteinylglycine
Part of the Foundational & therapeutic peptides cluster
Overview
Glutathione (GSH) is a tripeptide of glutamate, cysteine and glycine and the most abundant small-molecule antioxidant inside human cells. Its reactive cysteine thiol drives redox and detoxification chemistry. It is widely sold as a supplement and studied in biochemistry; this page is educational and not medical advice.
Source & context
Biological / chemical source: Synthesized in nearly all human cells from glutamate, cysteine and glycine
Primary research or clinical context: Sold as a dietary supplement; studied in biochemistry
An unusual peptide bond
Glutathione is written as γ-Glu-Cys-Gly because glutamate joins cysteine through its side-chain (gamma) carboxyl rather than the usual alpha linkage. This gamma bond resists ordinary peptidases, helping the molecule persist inside cells where its cysteine thiol cycles between reduced (GSH) and oxidized (GSSG) forms.
Role and availability
Glutathione participates in neutralizing reactive oxygen species and conjugating toxins for excretion, making it a central redox buffer. It is available as an over-the-counter supplement, though oral absorption is debated in the literature. This educational summary describes its chemistry without dosing or health-outcome claims.
FAQ about Glutathione
What is Glutathione?+
Glutathione (GSH) is a tripeptide of glutamate, cysteine and glycine and the most abundant small-molecule antioxidant inside human cells. Its reactive cysteine thiol drives redox and detoxification chemistry. It is widely sold as a supplement and studied in biochemistry; this page is educational and not medical advice.
Is Glutathione an approved medicine?+
Glutathione is discussed here as a research / educational topic. Sold as a dietary supplement; studied in biochemistry. This is not medical advice.
What is the typical length of Glutathione?+
Glutathione is commonly described as approximately 3 amino acids (Antioxidant tripeptide).