glutathione

American  

[gloo-tuh-thahy-ohn] / ˌglu təˈθaɪ oʊn /

noun

Biochemistry.

1. a crystalline, water-soluble peptide of glutamic acid, cysteine, and glycine, C 10 H 17 N 3 O 6 S, found in blood and in animal and plant tissues, and important in tissue oxidations and in the activation of some enzymes.

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glutathione British  

/ ˌɡluːtəˈθaɪəʊn, -θaɪˈəʊn /

noun

1. biochem a tripeptide consisting of glutamic acid, cysteine, and glycine: important in biological oxidations and the activation of some enzymes. Formula: C 10 H 17 N 3 O 6 S

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glutathione Scientific  

/ glo̅o̅′tə-thī′ōn′ /

1. A polypeptide consisting of glycine, cysteine, and glutamic acid that occurs widely in plant and animal tissues. It is important in cellular respiration in both plants and animals, and serves as a cofactor for many enzymes. It is a major protective mechanism against oxidative stress. For example, it protects red blood cells from hydrogen peroxide, a toxic byproduct of certain metabolic reactions.

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Etymology

Origin of glutathione

First recorded in 1920–25; gluta(mic acid) + thi- + -one

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

glutathione

That’s on top of the injections Leite gives herself regularly: NAD+, which she says makes her feel energized and alleviates her brain fog, and glutathione, which is marketed for antioxidant and immune support.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Mar. 18, 2026

“Vitamin C, zinc, key lime. I do my bees and my glutathione, and then I do my black walnuts because that’s a part of helping kill the parasites in the body.”

From Los Angeles Times ● Feb. 18, 2026

Other sellers admitted using regulated ingredients such as kojic acid, hydroquinone and a powerful antioxidant, glutathione, which may cause rashes and other side-effects.

From BBC ● Mar. 23, 2025

"We believe maintaining the glutathione-to-iron ratio is very important, because if you have too little glutathione, then iron becomes very reactive, and if you have too much glutathione, the iron will not be usable."

From Science Daily ● Nov. 8, 2023

Eating adequate amounts of lean protein may also benefit the body's natural system by maintaining adequate levels of glutathione, the body's master detoxification enzyme, or catalyst.

From Salon ● Jan. 25, 2023