Glutathione

Volume Pricing

Price per pack (10 vials). Discount applies to this compound only – no mix and match.

Glutathione — γ-L-Glutamyl-L-Cysteinyl-Glycine / Master Endogenous Antioxidant & Redox Regulator

Glutathione (GSH) is a naturally occurring tripeptide — composed of glutamate, cysteine, and glycine — and the most abundant non-protein thiol in animal cells. First isolated in 1921 by F.G. Hopkins and characterized as a γ-peptide, it is now recognized as the central hub of cellular antioxidant defense, present in virtually every cell at concentrations of 0.5–10 mM. Its defining structural feature — an unusual γ-peptide bond between glutamate and cysteine — protects it from routine peptidase hydrolysis and contributes to its intracellular stability. Endogenous GSH levels decline measurably with age, chronic oxidative stress, illness, and environmental toxin exposure, making exogenous glutathione research relevant across a broad range of models. Unlike most antioxidants, glutathione is not simply consumed in neutralizing oxidants — it is enzymatically recycled, making it the master coordinator of the entire cellular redox network.

Why Glutathione’s Mechanism Is Distinctive

Most antioxidants operate in a single pathway and are consumed in the process. Glutathione functions differently — it is a regenerative, enzyme-linked system that recycles itself and actively restores other antioxidants to their active states. This positions it not just as a free radical scavenger, but as a master regulator of cellular redox homeostasis.

The GSH/GSSG ratio is one of the most studied biomarkers in redox biology. In healthy tissue, more than 90% of the total glutathione pool exists in the reduced (active) GSH form. Shifts toward oxidized GSSG — as seen in aging, neurodegeneration, metabolic disease, and chronic inflammation — serve as both a consequence and a driver of cellular dysfunction.

Research Applications

Glutathione is used in studies examining:

• Cellular redox homeostasis and oxidative stress quantification via GSH/GSSG ratio
• Hepatic detoxification pathways — Phase II conjugation, xenobiotic excretion, and acetaminophen-induced GSH depletion models
• Mitochondrial dysfunction, electron transport chain integrity, and bioenergetic stress
• Neurodegeneration models — GSH depletion in Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s, and dopaminergic neuron vulnerability
• Immune cell function — lymphocyte activity and GSH’s role in T-cell proliferation and cytokine regulation
• Chemotherapy-induced neuropathy attenuation and cisplatin toxicity models
• Metabolic disease — insulin sensitivity, NAFLD, and liver enzyme normalization
• Skin pigmentation and melanogenesis pathway modulation
• Cardiovascular and ischemia/reperfusion protection via oxidative stress attenuation
• Antioxidant network dynamics — vitamin C/E regeneration and Nrf2 pathway upregulation

Specifications

Reconstitution

Glutathione arrives as lyophilized powder and must be reconstituted with bacteriostatic water prior to use. Use the formula:

Total mg ÷ Volume added (mL) = Concentration (mg/mL)

Example: 1500mg + 10mL BAC water = 150mg/mL solution

Glutathione is notably less stable than most research peptides once reconstituted. Reconstituted solution should be stored at 2–8°C, protected from light, and used within 14–21 days for optimal potency. Do not freeze reconstituted solution. The lyophilized powder is more stable than reconstituted solution and should be kept refrigerated rather than frozen to minimize condensation risk upon opening.

Protocol Notes

Glutathione is administered at milligram-level doses — significantly higher than most peptides — reflecting its role as a substrate-level cellular resource rather than a signaling molecule. Research protocols vary considerably depending on endpoint: antioxidant support, detoxification, neuroprotection, or skin biology each use different dose frameworks.

Typical research dosing framework:

• Starting dose: 200–400mg per administration
• Escalation: Increase to 600–1200mg based on research objective and observed response
• Frequency: 1–3x per week (subcutaneous or intramuscular); daily lower-dose protocols (100–200mg) are used in some chronic oxidative stress models
• Study duration: 4–8 week cycles; 2–4 week washout between cycles is common
• Note: Higher-dose protocols (1200mg+) are typically reserved for specific endpoints such as chemotherapy neuropathy studies or intensive detoxification models and should be escalated gradually

Commonly observed effects in research models:

• General: Well-tolerated across a broad dose range in human-subject research; no major adverse events reported at standard research doses
• GI / systemic (at high doses): Abdominal discomfort, loose stool, or fever-like symptoms reported at very high doses in some models — more common with rapid escalation than steady-state protocols
• Metabolic: Excessive or sustained high-dose administration may interfere with endogenous antioxidant signaling; monitoring of baseline oxidative stress markers is standard in extended protocols
• Other: Injection site redness or mild irritation; product instability post-reconstitution is the primary practical challenge — degraded solution may appear yellow or off-color and should be discarded

Research Stacks

Glutathione is commonly paired in research settings with:

• NAD+ — NAD+ is a central redox cofactor that drives cellular energy metabolism; glutathione is the primary intracellular antioxidant. Co-administration studies examine how replenishing both molecules affects oxidative stress markers and mitochondrial function in aged or metabolically stressed cell models.
• B12 — Vitamin B12 supports the methionine cycle, which provides cysteine substrate for glutathione biosynthesis; researchers pair them to study one-carbon metabolism and its downstream impact on endogenous antioxidant capacity.
• Lipo-C — Lipo-C combines lipotropic cofactors including methionine and choline; it is studied alongside glutathione in hepatic models examining methylation efficiency, fat metabolism, and reactive oxygen species management.

Purity Guarantee

Every batch is ≥99% purity. If you independently test your compound and the results don’t match — send us the COA and we’ll issue store credit, no questions asked.