Glutathione is widely found in all forms of life and plays an essential role in the health of organisms, particularly aerobic organisms. In animals, including humans, and in plants, glutathione is the predominant non-protein thiol and functions as a redox buffer, keeping with its own SH groups those of proteins in a reduced condition, among other antioxidant activities. Glutathione has the following structural formula:Glutathione (reduced) is known chemically as N-(N-L-gamma-glutamyl-L-cysteinyl)glycine and is abbreviated as GSH.Glutathione disulfide is also known as L-gamma-glutamyl-L-cysteinyl-glycine disulfide and is abbreviated as GSSG.
