Glutathione

Glutathione (CAS 70-18-8), also known as GSH, is a tripeptide antioxidant produced through fermentation and widely sourced for use across pharmaceutical, food, and cosmetic manufacturing. It functions as a reducing agent and antioxidant stabilizer, protecting formulations and biological systems from oxidative degradation. In pharmaceutical manufacturing, GSH serves as an active ingredient.

It is used in injectables, oral supplements, and lyophilized drug formulations where oxidative stability is critical. Food and beverage producers incorporate it as an antioxidant to extend shelf life. In dough systems, it modifies gluten structure to improve processing performance in baked goods. Cosmetic and personal care formulators use it in skin-brightening serums, creams, and topical products.

These products target uneven skin tone through melanin pathway modulation. In biotechnology, it functions as a critical reagent in cell culture media and protein purification processes. It is particularly useful in refolding disulfide-bonded proteins. This material is supplied as a white to off-white crystalline powder available in pharmaceutical-grade (USP, BP, Ph. Eur.) specifications.

It also meets food-grade (FCC) requirements to satisfy regulatory standards across different end markets. Reduced glutathione is the predominant commercial form for industrial-scale procurement.