# Glutathione > The body’s master antioxidant — a tripeptide (γ-Glu-Cys-Gly) sold as an injectable for antioxidant, detox, and skin-related use. - Also known as: GSH, γ-Glu-Cys-Gly, reduced glutathione - Class: Mitochondrial, Longevity - FDA approved: No - Canonical page: https://americanpeptide.com/catalog/glutathione ## Overview Glutathione is the cell’s principal antioxidant: a tripeptide of glutamate, cysteine, and glycine that neutralizes reactive oxygen species and supports detoxification. It is one of the few genuine peptides in the antioxidant/cofactor group of this catalog, though it is usually thought of as a metabolite rather than a "peptide drug." On the grey market it is sold as an injectable and IV additive for antioxidant support, detoxification, and — especially — skin brightening, a popular use for which the evidence is weak. Glutathione (GSH) is ubiquitous and essential — present in nearly every cell as the main line of defense against oxidative damage. Structurally it is a small tripeptide with one unusual feature: its glutamate is joined through its side-chain (γ) carboxyl rather than the normal backbone linkage, which protects it from ordinary peptidases. Its business end is the cysteine thiol, which donates electrons to quench reactive oxygen species and then recycles between reduced (GSH) and oxidized (GSSG) states. Because oxidative stress and declining glutathione are themes in aging and disease, it is widely sold — as oral, liposomal, and especially injectable / IV forms — for antioxidant support and detoxification. Its most popular grey-market use is cosmetic skin lightening, where it is marketed heavily despite thin and inconsistent clinical evidence and unclear safety for that purpose. It is included here as the rare true peptide among the antioxidant / cofactor compounds; it is a supplement and research reagent, not an FDA-approved drug for these uses. ## Mechanism A redox buffer — its cysteine thiol donates electrons to neutralize reactive oxygen species and is a substrate for glutathione peroxidases and S-transferases in detoxification; cycles between reduced (GSH) and oxidized (GSSG) forms. ## Chemistry | Property | Value | | --- | --- | | Molecular formula | C10H17N3O6S | | Molecular weight | 307.32 Da | | CAS number | 70-18-8 | | PubChem CID | [124886](https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/124886) | ## Sequence ``` γ-Glu-Cys-Gly ``` ## Research areas Studied in: Oxidative stress, Detoxification, Skin (depigmentation), Mitochondrial protection. Guides on this site: - [Skin & Hair](https://americanpeptide.com/research-areas/skin-hair): Peptides studied for skin aging, pigmentation, and hair follicle biology. - [Mitochondrial & Bioenergetics](https://americanpeptide.com/research-areas/mitochondrial): Mitochondria-targeted peptides studied for bioenergetics and cardiolipin. ## Key research - Master antioxidant — the cell’s principal redox buffer, neutralizing reactive oxygen species via its cysteine thiol. - Detoxification — a substrate for glutathione S-transferases and peroxidases that conjugate and clear toxins and peroxides. - Skin depigmentation — its most popular grey-market use (injectable / IV), marketed for skin lightening on weak clinical evidence. - γ-glutamyl structure — an unusual side-chain peptide bond that resists ordinary peptidases; cycles between GSH and GSSG. - Not an approved drug for these uses — sold as a supplement / reagent; antioxidant and cosmetic claims are largely unproven. ## Storage, handling & synthesis **Synthesis.** Glutathione (γ-Glu-Cys-Gly) is a tripeptide with an unusual side-chain (γ-glutamyl) bond and a free, oxidation-prone cysteine thiol; it is produced mainly by fermentation or enzymatic synthesis rather than solid-phase chemistry. Keeping the cysteine reduced — it readily oxidizes to the disulfide GSSG — is the dominant quality and stability concern. ## FAQs ### What is glutathione? Glutathione (GSH) is the body’s master antioxidant — a tripeptide of glutamate, cysteine, and glycine that neutralizes reactive oxygen species and supports detoxification. ### Is glutathione a peptide? Yes — it is a tripeptide (γ-Glu-Cys-Gly), one of the few true peptides among the antioxidant and cofactor compounds catalogued here, though it is usually thought of as a metabolite. ### Does injectable glutathione lighten skin? It is marketed heavily for skin lightening, but the clinical evidence is weak and inconsistent and its safety for that use is unclear. This page is a research and educational reference, not medical advice. ### Is it FDA-approved? No — it is sold as a supplement and research reagent, not an FDA-approved drug for antioxidant, detox, or cosmetic uses. ## Latest research Recent trials and publications mentioning Glutathione, pulled automatically from ClinicalTrials.gov and PubMed (unfiltered search results, refreshed daily). ### Recent trials - [NEURO-COGS: Neurometabolic Mechanisms of Cognitive Training in Schizophrenia](https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT07788755) — NOT_YET_RECRUITING · NA · NCT07788755 - [Effect of Rosmarinus Officinalis Extract on Oxidative Stress and Inflammatory Biomarkers in Patients With Type 2 Diabetes (T2DM)](https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT07541729) — ACTIVE_NOT_RECRUITING · NA · NCT07541729 - [Dietary Intervention Study on Liver Health in Young Adults](https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT07786831) — RECRUITING · NA · NCT07786831 - [EMS vs. Resistance Training in Overweight Women](https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT07787286) — NOT_YET_RECRUITING · NA · NCT07787286 - [Vitamin E Add-On Therapy, Thyroid Function & Oxidative Stress in Levothyroxine-Treated Hypothyroidism](https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT07781514) — ENROLLING_BY_INVITATION · NA · NCT07781514 - [NRP + ex Situ HMPO2 vs NRP Alone in DCD Kidney Transplantation](https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT07779187) — NOT_YET_RECRUITING · NA · NCT07779187 --- Source: AmericanPeptide.com — https://americanpeptide.com/catalog/glutathione Data license: CC BY 4.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/). Attribution: AmericanPeptide.com. Research reference only — computational and educational content, not medical advice.