METHODS FOR REDUCING OXIDATIVE STRESS IN A CELL WITH A SULFHYDRYL PROTECTED CLUTATHIONE PRODRUG
The present invention relates to compositions and methods for reducing oxidative stress in a cell, increasing glutathione levels in a cell, increasing L-cysteine levels in a cell and reducing hepatocytotoxicity by contacting a cell with a sulfhydryl protected glutathione prodrug or a sulfhydryl protected cysteine prodrug.
1 . A method for providing glutathione to a subject without relying on de novo glutathione biosynthesis pathway comprising administering a sulfhydryl protected glutathione prodrug to a subject in need of such treatment, wherein the sulfhydryl protected glutathione prodrug produces glutathione in the subject without relying on the subject's own de novo glutathione biosynthesis pathway.
2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the sulfhydryl protected glutathione prodrug produces glutathione in addition to glutathione produced via de novo glutathione biosynthesis pathway in the subject.
3 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the sulfhydryl protected glutathione prodrug is selected from the group consisting of L-CySSG, GSSMA, GSSME, S-Ac-GSH-OEt, a derivative thereof and a combination thereof.
4 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the sulfhydryl protected glutathione prodrug is provided in a pharmaceutical composition.
5 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the sulfhydryl protected glutathione prodrug is provided as a dietary supplement.
6 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the sulfhydryl protected glutathione is a racemic or scalemic mixture of L-CySSG.
7 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the sulfhydryl protected glutathione is a L-CySSG mixture optically enriched in the enantiomer having the same absolute configuration as L-Cysteine.
8 . A method for maintaining glutathione homeostasis in a subject with impaired glutathione biosynthesis pathway comprising administering to a subject in need of such treatment an effective amount of a sulfhydryl protected glutathione prodrug, wherein the sulfhydryl protected glutathione prodrug produces glutathione in the subject without relying on the subject's own de novo glutathione biosynthesis pathway.
9 . The method of claim 8 , wherein the sulfhydryl protected glutathione prodrug produces glutathione in addition to glutathione produced via de novo glutathione biosynthesis pathway in the subject.
10 . The method of claim 8 , wherein the sulfhydryl protected glutathione prodrug is selected from the group consisting of L-CySSG, GSSMA, GSSME, S-Ac-GSH-OEt, a derivative thereof and a combination thereof.
11 . The method of claim 8 , wherein the sulfhydryl protected glutathione prodrug is provided in a pharmaceutical composition.
12 . The method of claim 8 , wherein the sulfhydryl protected glutathione prodrug is provided as a dietary supplement.
13 . The method of claim 8 , wherein the sulfhydryl protected glutathione is a racemic or scalemic mixture of L-CySSG.
14 . The method of claim 8 , wherein the sulfhydryl protected glutathione is a L-CySSG mixture optically enriched in the enantiomer having the same absolute configuration as L-Cysteine.
15 . A method for maintaining cellular antioxidant level in a subject comprising administering to a subject in need of such treatment an effective amount of a sulfhydryl protected glutathione prodrug, wherein the sulfhydryl protected glutathione prodrug produces glutathione in the subject without relying on the subject's own de novo glutathione biosynthesis pathway.
16 . The method of claim 15 , wherein the sulfhydryl protected glutathione prodrug produces glutathione in addition to glutathione produced via de novo glutathione biosynthesis pathway in the subject.
17 . The method of claim 15 , wherein the sulfhydryl protected glutathione prodrug is selected from the group consisting of L-CySSG, GSSMA, GSSME, S-Ac-GSH-OEt, a derivative thereof and a combination thereof.
18 . The method of claim 15 , wherein the sulfhydryl protected glutathione prodrug is provided in a pharmaceutical composition.
19 . The method of claim 15 , wherein the sulfhydryl protected glutathione prodrug is provided as a dietary supplement.
20 . The method of claim 15 , wherein the sulfhydryl protected glutathione is a racemic or scalemic mixture of L-CySSG.
21 . The method of claim 15 , wherein the sulfhydryl protected glutathione is a L-CySSG mixture optically enriched in the enantiomer having the same absolute configuration as L-Cysteine.
22 . A pharmaceutical composition comprising a unit dosage amount of sulfhydryl protected glutathione prodrug, wherein the unit dosage amount is an amount suitable for human treatment.
23 . The pharmaceutical composition of claim 22 , wherein the sulfhydryl protected glutathione prodrug is selected from the group consisting of L-CySSG, GSSMA, GSSME, S-Ac-GSH-OEt, a derivative thereof and a combination thereof.
24 . The pharmaceutical composition of claim 22 , wherein the sulfhydryl protected glutathione is a racemic or scalemic mixture of L-CySSG.
25 . The pharmaceutical composition of claim 22 , wherein the sulfhydryl protected glutathione is a L-CySSG mixture optically enriched in the enantiomer having the same absolute configuration as L-Cysteine.
26 . The pharmaceutical composition of claim 22 , wherein the unit dosage amount is from about 50 to about 500 milligrams.
27 . A comestible composition comprising a sulfhydryl protected glutathione prodrug.
28 . The comestible composition of claim 27 , wherein the sulfhydryl protected glutathione prodrug is provided in a food or beverage formulation.
29 . The comestible composition of claim 27 , wherein the sulfhydryl protected glutathione prodrug is provided in a dietary supplement formulation.
30 . The comestible composition of claim 27 , wherein the sulfhydryl protected glutathione prodrug is selected from the group consisting of L-CySSG, GSSMA, GSSME, S-Ac-GSH-OEt, a derivative thereof and a combination thereof.
31 . The comestible composition of claim 27 , wherein the sulfhydryl protected glutathione is a racemic or scalemic mixture of L-CySSG.
32 . The comestible composition of claim 27 , wherein the sulfhydryl protected glutathione is a L-CySSG mixture optically enriched in the enantiomer having the same absolute configuration as L-Cysteine.