Is glutathione important?
2022-09-27
When it comes to glutathione, there is another term that explains GSH. Many friends have been in contact, and it is estimated that everyone has not fully understood its physiological significance. Today I will give you a brief introduction:
Glutathione is a sulfhydryl-containing tripeptide that combines glutamic acid, cysteine and glycine for antioxidant and comprehensive detoxification effects. The sulfhydryl group on cysteine is the glutathione active group that binds easily to some drugs (such as paracetamol) and toxins (such as free radicals, iodoacetic acid, mustard gas, lead, mercury, arsenic and other heavy metals).
Physiological functions of glutathione
The main physiological function is to scavenge free radicals in the human body. As an important antioxidant in the human body, it protects sulfhydryl groups in various molecules such as proteins and enzymes. GSH contains active sulfhydryl-SH in its structure, which is prone to oxidative dehydrogenation. This particular structure makes it a major free radical scavenger in the body.
For example, when a small amount of H2O2 is produced in cells, GSH will reduce H2O2 to H2O, oxidize to GSSG under the action of glutathione peroxidase, and be reduced by glutathione in the liver and red blood cells. Under the action of enzymes, H is reduced to GSH, allowing the free radical scavenging reaction in the body to continue.
Glutathione not only removes free radicals in the human body, but also improves the body's immunity. Glutathione also protects hemoglobin from oxidation by hydrogen peroxide and free radicals, allowing it to continue to perform its ability to transport oxygen normally. Part of the hemoglobin in red blood cells is oxidized to ferric iron by oxidants such as hydrogen peroxide, which transfers hemoglobin to the -SH group in the glutathione protective enzyme molecule, which is conducive to the exertion of enzyme activity, can restore the active function of the -SH group in the damaged enzyme molecule, and restore the activity of the enzyme.
