The properties of pure glutathione

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
Crystalline glutathione absorbs O at the rate of about 30 mm.3 per hr. per 5 mgm. glutathione (at p H 7.6 and 20[degree]). The oxidation is due to traces of Fe which can be removed by kaolin. The solutions can be reactivated by adding a trace of Fe. The addition of Fe to solutions of crystalline glutathione does not accelerate the autoxidation. Crystalline glutathione carries traces of some metal (Fe) and some substance that is able to form catalytically active complexes with metals. The catalytic substance, apparently, can be formed from the glutathione molecule itself under certain conditions. Free cysteine acts similarly to the catalytic impurity, but quantitative experiments do not support the view that cysteine itself is responsible.