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Pharmacotherapeutic Class: Glutathione is a physiologic tripeptide which involved in several biological processes and exerts an important role in detoxification reactions, protecting cells from the noxious effect of xenobiotics, of environmental and intracellular oxidants and from radiations.
Glutathione administered via parenteral belongs to the pharmacotherapeutic class of the antidotes.
Pharmacology: Pharmacokinetics: After intravenous infusion of 2 g/m2 of glutathione to healthy volunteers, plasma concentration of total glutathione increased from 17.5±13.4 μmol/L (mean ± SD) to 823±326 μmol/L. The volume of distribution of exogenous glutathione has been calculated to be 176±107 mL/kg and the plasma half life was 14.1±9.2 minutes. Cysteine concentration in plasma increased from 8.9±3.5 μmol/L to 114±45 μmol after the infusion. In spite of the cysteine increase, total plasma concentration of total cysteine, cysteine and mixed disulphides decreased, indicating an increased transport of cysteine inside the cells. Urinary excretion of glutathione and cyst(e)ine increased by 300% and 10% respectively, in the 90 minutes after infusion. These data show that the intravenous administration of glutathione markedly increases the concentration of sulphydryl containing compounds in the urinary tract and therefore also the availability of cysteine at cellular level. The high intracellular concentration of cysteine may be explain the protective effect against xenobiotics since this causes, directly or indirectly, an increased biosynthesis of glutathione.
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