Natural peptide · 3 amino acids · 307.3 Da

Glutathione studies and research data

PepBank has 50 glutathione studies with results. 49 of them gave glutathione, with 274 results, grouped by what the studies measured. In each group, results from studies in people come first. Data as of 2026-10-30.

Searches 274 results and 366 papers. Newer studies from Europe PMC

Results in people

266

97% of 274 results

Results in animals

3% of 274 results

Results in lab cells

under 1% of 274 results

From computer models

0% of 274 results

The molecule

Glutathione identity

Identifiers, parent molecule, targets and development stage, from curated data.

Reduced glutathione comprises glutamate, cysteine and glycine with a gamma-glutamyl peptide bond. It is distinct from oxidised glutathione and N-acetylcysteine. Japan lists injectable Tathion as a prescription glutathione medicine. FDA nomination category status is not drug approval. This record covers administered glutathione treatments, not natural concentration measurements.

Kind: Natural peptide · 3 residues
Identifiers: ChEMBLCHEMBL1543 (opens in a new tab)PubChem CID124886 (opens in a new tab)UNIIGAN16C9B8O (opens in a new tab)DrugBankDB00143 (opens in a new tab)CAS70-18-8
Development: Approved in Japan onlyTathion: Choseido Pharmaceutical (manufacturer)Nationally approved medicine in Japan. Not a standalone FDA-approved injection. Source (opens in a new tab)

Targets

No molecular target is recorded for this peptide.

Sequence and structure

Residues, differences from the parent, calculated properties and 3D structure. Source values and calculated values are shown separately.

Sequence

3 amino acids · 1 modification

H-

-OH

Properties

From identity sources

Formula: C₁₀H₁₇N₃O₆S
Molecular weight: 307.33 g/mol
Monoisotopic mass: 307.0838 Da

PubChem CID 124886(opens in a new tab)retrieved 2026-10-13

Calculated from the sequence

pKa set

Some values cannot be calculated. A modification changes this value and is not modeled here (for example a lipid, metal or linker).

Average mass: Not calculated
Monoisotopic mass: Not calculated
Isoelectric point (pI): Not calculated
Net charge at pH 7.4: Not calculated
GRAVY (hydropathy): −0.467; Mean Kyte-Doolittle hydropathy · Kyte and Doolittle 1982; Negative: hydrophilic on average.
Extinction coefficient, 280 nm (Cys reduced): 0 M⁻¹ cm⁻¹; 5500 x Trp + 1490 x Tyr · Pace et al. 1995 (ExPASy ProtParam); No Trp or Tyr: absorbance at 280 nm cannot measure this peptide.
Instability index: 153.13; Dipeptide instability weights (DIWV) · Guruprasad et al. 1990; Above 40: classed as possibly unstable (ExPASy).
Aliphatic index: 0.0; Mole % A + 2.9 V + 3.9 (I + L) · Ikai 1980
Boman index: 1.53 kcal/mol; Mean solubility value (negated) · Boman 2003; 2.48 or below: lower protein-binding potential (Boman).
Hydrophobic moment (μH): Not calculated; The sequence is too short for this method.

Not included: other modification. Mass, charge and pI are not calculated; use the identity-source values.
Defined and validated for proteins; use with care for short peptides.
Assumes an ideal alpha helix. Many short peptides are not helical.

@pepdb/chem 0.2.0 · EMBOSS pKa set · ExPASy residue masses

Net charge by pH

No charge curve

A modification changes this value and is not modeled here (for example a lipid, metal or linker).

Composition

Negative33% (1)E
Special67% (2)C G

3 residues. Each residue counts in one class; F and W count as aromatic.

A Ala0 · 0%

I Ile0 · 0%

L Leu0 · 0%

M Met0 · 0%

V Val0 · 0%

F Phe0 · 0%

W Trp0 · 0%

Y Tyr0 · 0%

H His0 · 0%

K Lys0 · 0%

R Arg0 · 0%

D Asp0 · 0%

E Glu1 · 33%

N Asn0 · 0%

Q Gln0 · 0%

S Ser0 · 0%

T Thr0 · 0%

C Cys1 · 33%

G Gly1 · 33%

P Pro0 · 0%

3D structure

No 3D structure

No experimental structure (PDB) and no UniProt entry for an AlphaFold model are listed for this peptide. Synthetic peptides often have neither. The sequence view above is the reference.

2D structure

Draws the structure in your browser with RDKit (about 2.3 MB, loaded once).

SMILES fromPubChem CID 124886(opens in a new tab)

C(CC(=O)N[C@@H](CS)C(=O)NCC(=O)O)[C@@H](C(=O)O)N

Results by area

Glutathione results by year and outcome

Counts are exact and come from studies that gave the peptide.

Studies by year

50 of 366 studies have results (14%), published 1987 to 2022. Top row: every study. Bottom row: studies with results about Glutathione, by class. The rows use different scales.

Studies
Human
Animal
Lab
Computer model
Natural levels, tool or combination only

Studies366 in all, 1950 to 2026

Studies with results50 in all, 1987 to 2022

Retracted studies are left out. A study with results in two classes counts in both.

AI wrote and checked these results. AI can make mistakes, so check important results against the source.

What the studies measured

People first in each area, then animals, then lab cells. Counts are exact and come from studies that gave the peptide.

Glutathione studies on blood levels and clearance

39 results · people 39 · animals 0 · lab 0

Top 5 of 39 results

In colorectal cancer, most main platinum pharmacokinetic parameters did not significantly differ with glutathione versus saline.Anti-cancer drugs, 2009
In people with metabolic syndrome, sublingual GSH increased total plasma glutathione compared with oral GSH.Redox biology, 2015
In cystic fibrosis, inhaled glutathione increased glutathione in sputum, showing delivery to the lungs.American journal of respiratory and critical care medicine, 2013
In Parkinson's disease, intranasal GSH increased brain glutathione compared with baseline.NPJ Parkinson's disease, 2016
In HIV-positive subjects, glutathione levels increased from baseline during liposomal glutathione treatment.AIDS research and human retroviruses, 2017

Glutathione studies on side effects

32 results · people 32 · animals 0 · lab 0

Top 5 of 32 results

In chemotherapy patients, apparent toxicities did not differ significantly between GSH and placebo.Cancer, 2014
In patients with ovarian cancer, glutathione improved the breathlessness score compared with control.Annals of oncology, 1997
In patients with advanced gastric cancer, neuropathy occurred less often with glutathione than placebo at week 9.Journal of clinical oncology, 1995
In healthy women, topical GSSG application produced no marked adverse effects.Clinical, cosmetic and investigational dermatology, 2014
In Parkinson's disease, one participant receiving high-dose GSH developed heart muscle disease.Journal of Parkinson's disease, 2017

Glutathione studies on immune system and inflammation

30 results · people 30 · animals 0 · lab 0

Top 5 of 30 results

In healthy adults, high-dose GSH increased natural killer cell activity compared with placebo.European journal of nutrition, 2015
In diabetic patients and healthy controls, glutathione prevented the ICAM-1 increase compared with glucose testing alone.Hormone and metabolic research = Hormon- und Stoffwechselforschung = Hormones et metabolisme, 1998
In cystic fibrosis, airway glutathione supplementation showed no evidence of reduced inflammation.American journal of respiratory and critical care medicine, 2013
In cystic fibrosis, inhaled glutathione significantly increased lung lavage CD4+ immune cells compared with pretreatment levels.Free radical biology & medicine, 2005
In healthy adults, liposomal glutathione increased natural killer cell activity from baseline by up to 400% by two weeks.European journal of clinical nutrition, 2018

Glutathione studies on cells, genes and aging

31 results · people 28 · animals 3 · lab 0

Top 5 of 31 results

In healthy adults, oral glutathione did not significantly change urinary F2-isoprostanes versus placebo.Journal of alternative and complementary medicine, 2011
In diabetic individuals, glutathione supplementation decreased a marker of oxidative DNA damage from baseline within three months.Antioxidants, 2022
In cystic fibrosis, inhaled glutathione showed no indication of reduced oxidative damage to proteins.American journal of respiratory and critical care medicine, 2013
In HIV-positive subjects with low CD4 counts, liposomal glutathione decreased free radicals compared with placebo.AIDS research and human retroviruses, 2017
In obese subjects with and without diabetes, glutathione supplementation did not change hydrogen peroxide emission from muscle mitochondria.Applied physiology, nutrition, and metabolism = Physiologie appliquee, nutrition et metabolisme, 2021

Glutathione studies on blood sugar

19 results · people 19 · animals 0 · lab 0

Top 3 of 19 results

In diabetic individuals, glutathione supplementation maintained HbA1c at baseline levels overall.Antioxidants, 2022
In diabetic patients and controls, larger redox ratio increases after glutathione infusion were linked to larger glucose uptake increases.Metabolism: clinical and experimental, 1998
In obese subjects with and without diabetes, insulin sensitivity increased from baseline in the glutathione group.Applied physiology, nutrition, and metabolism = Physiologie appliquee, nutrition et metabolisme, 2021

Glutathione studies on skin, hair and wounds

17 results · people 17 · animals 0 · lab 0

Top 5 of 17 results

In patients with ovarian cancer, glutathione improved the hair loss score compared with control.Annals of oncology, 1997
In healthy medical students, glutathione reduced skin melanin on the right face more than placebo.The Journal of dermatological treatment, 2012
In healthy women, topical GSSG increased skin moisture compared with placebo.Clinical, cosmetic and investigational dermatology, 2014
In healthy women, topical GSSG lowered skin pigment scores compared with placebo.Clinical, cosmetic and investigational dermatology, 2014
In healthy women, GSH tended to reduce ultraviolet spots compared with placebo.Clinical, cosmetic and investigational dermatology, 2017

Glutathione studies on daily life and fitness

16 results · people 16 · animals 0 · lab 0

Top 5 of 16 results

In Parkinson's disease, glutathione did not significantly change disease rating scores compared with placebo.Movement disorders, 2009
In patients with ovarian cancer, glutathione improved ability to do housekeeping compared with control.Annals of oncology, 1997
In peripheral artery disease, glutathione increased pain-free walking distance compared with pretreatment values.Mayo Clinic proceedings, 2002
In healthy men, glutathione reduced fatigue-related psychological factors compared with placebo.Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition, 2015
In healthy men, glutathione reduced the rise in blood lactate after exercise compared with placebo.Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition, 2015

Glutathione studies on brain and nerves

14 results · people 14 · animals 0 · lab 0

Top 3 of 14 results

In patients receiving paclitaxel and carboplatin, sensory nerve toxicity did not differ significantly between GSH and placebo.Cancer, 2014
In patients with advanced gastric cancer, nerve conduction decreased significantly with placebo but not glutathione.Journal of clinical oncology, 1995
In colorectal cancer receiving oxaliplatin, neurotoxicity affected nine of 21 glutathione recipients versus 15 of 19 placebo recipients after the eighth cycle.Journal of clinical oncology, 2002

Glutathione studies on lungs and breathing

11 results · people 11 · animals 0 · lab 0

Top 3 of 11 results

In cystic fibrosis, glutathione did not significantly change the FEV1 pre-post difference versus placebo.American journal of respiratory and critical care medicine, 2013
In cystic fibrosis, inhaled GSH did not reach the prespecified lung function improvement target.Journal of cystic fibrosis, 2015
In cystic fibrosis, lung function increased compared with pretreatment values after 14 days of glutathione inhalation.American journal of respiratory and critical care medicine, 2004

Glutathione studies on heart and blood vessels

10 results · people 10 · animals 0 · lab 0

Top 5 of 10 results

In peripheral artery disease, resting circulation tests after treatment did not differ between glutathione and saline groups.Mayo Clinic proceedings, 2002
In diabetic subjects with or without hypertension, glutathione reduced systolic blood pressure from baseline.Journal of diabetes and its complications, 1997
In peripheral artery disease, resting circulation values did not differ between baseline and after glutathione treatment.Mayo Clinic proceedings, 2002
In patients with type 2 diabetes, glutathione prevented the vascular effects of high glucose.Diabetes care, 2000
In peripheral artery disease, glutathione increased large-vessel flow after treadmill exercise compared with pretreatment values.Mayo Clinic proceedings, 2002

Glutathione studies on cancer

9 results · people 9 · animals 0 · lab 0

Top 5 of 9 results

In patients with ovarian cancer, treatment response did not differ significantly between glutathione and control.Annals of oncology, 1997
In patients receiving paclitaxel and carboplatin, time to disease progression did not differ significantly between GSH and placebo.Cancer, 2014
In patients with advanced gastric cancer, response was higher with glutathione than placebo.Journal of clinical oncology, 1995
In advanced colorectal cancer receiving oxaliplatin, response rates were 26.9% with glutathione and 23.1% with placebo, without reduced oxaliplatin activity.Journal of clinical oncology, 2002
In patients with advanced lung or head and neck cancer receiving chemotherapy, response did not differ significantly between glutathione and intensive hydration.Wiener klinische Wochenschrift, 2000

Glutathione studies on metabolism and nutrition

8 results · people 8 · animals 0 · lab 0

Top 3 of 8 results

In children with autism spectrum disorders, oral glutathione increased plasma reduced glutathione from pretreatment levels.Medical science monitor, 2011
In children with autism spectrum disorders, oral glutathione did not significantly increase whole-blood glutathione from pretreatment levels.Medical science monitor, 2011
In children with autism spectrum disorders, oral glutathione increased plasma sulfate from pretreatment levels.Medical science monitor, 2011

Glutathione studies on sex hormones and fertility

6 results · people 6 · animals 0 · lab 0

Top 3 of 6 results

In infertile patients, glutathione improved the percentage of sperm moving forward compared with placebo.Human reproduction, 1993
In infertile men, glutathione changed sperm movement patterns. The abstract does not state the direction.Archives of andrology, 1992
In infertile patients, glutathione therapy improved sperm measures.Human reproduction, 1994

Glutathione studies on liver

6 results · people 5 · animals 1 · lab 0

Top 3 of 6 results

In people with fatty liver disease, liver enzyme ALT decreased after glutathione treatment.BMC gastroenterology, 2017
In tuberculosis patients receiving INH and RFP, glutathione intake was linked to a negative rate of drug-induced liver injury.Biochemical and biophysical research communications, 2020
In people with fatty liver disease, ferritin decreased with glutathione treatment.BMC gastroenterology, 2017

Glutathione studies on receptors and cell signals

5 results · people 4 · animals 1 · lab 0

5 results

In patients with mild asthma, glutathione-related lung function falls were not linked to methacholine challenge responses.American journal of respiratory and critical care medicine, 1997
In colorectal cancer treated with FOLFOX4, platinum binding to DNA did not significantly differ with glutathione versus saline.Anti-cancer drugs, 2009
After glutathione infusion, metabolic and hormonal changes were linked to lower plasma membrane viscosity.The American journal of physiology, 1992
In rats, adding GSH increased plasma NOx compared with L-citrulline alone.Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition, 2015
In cystic fibrosis, airway glutathione supplementation showed no evidence of reduced protein breakdown.American journal of respiratory and critical care medicine, 2013

Glutathione studies on weight and appetite

4 results · people 4 · animals 0 · lab 0

Top 3 of 4 results

In cystic fibrosis, a glutathione regimen was linked to an 8.6 point weight percentile increase from baseline.Journal of cystic fibrosis, 2008
In cystic fibrosis, 12 of 13 patients improved in weight percentile during use of the glutathione regimen.Journal of cystic fibrosis, 2008
In cystic fibrosis, a glutathione regimen was linked to a 1.22 point BMI percentile increase from baseline.Journal of cystic fibrosis, 2008

Glutathione studies on infections

4 results · people 3 · animals 0 · lab 1

Top 3 of 4 results

In cystic fibrosis, a glutathione regimen was linked to fewer positive bacterial sputum cultures than at baseline.Journal of cystic fibrosis, 2008
In cystic fibrosis, Pseudomonas sputum cultures became negative in 4 of 5 previously positive patients during glutathione regimen use.Journal of cystic fibrosis, 2008
In cystic fibrosis, two of three chronically Pseudomonas-infected patients had negative sputum cultures during glutathione regimen use.Journal of cystic fibrosis, 2008

Glutathione studies on cholesterol and blood fats

3 results · people 2 · animals 1 · lab 0

3 results

In people with fatty liver disease, triglycerides decreased with glutathione treatment.BMC gastroenterology, 2017
In people with fatty liver disease, free fatty acids decreased with glutathione treatment.BMC gastroenterology, 2017
In mice, glutathione lowered free fatty acids after exercise compared with exercise control.Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition, 2015

Glutathione studies on pain

2 results · people 2 · animals 0 · lab 0

2 results

In patients receiving paclitaxel every 3-4 weeks, acute pain did not differ significantly between GSH and placebo.Cancer, 2014
In patients receiving weekly paclitaxel, acute pain outcomes favored placebo over GSH.Cancer, 2014

Glutathione studies on use, access and costs

2 results · people 2 · animals 0 · lab 0

2 results

In patients with ovarian cancer, more patients received six chemotherapy courses with glutathione than control.Annals of oncology, 1997
In patients with advanced gastric cancer, glutathione reduced treatment delays compared with placebo.Journal of clinical oncology, 1995