What is acetylcysteine?

NAC is the acetylated form of the amino acid L-cysteine, which has antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and mucolytic properties. It is converted to L-cysteine ​​after ingestion, which in turn is converted to glutathione, a powerful antioxidant. NAC is a white crystalline powder that is hygroscopic and soluble in water or ethanol, but insoluble in ether or chloroform. It is acidic in aqueous solution with a melting point of about 101-107°C. Our acetylcysteine ​​is extremely stable in structure and can be used as APIs in various medical applications.

What functions does it have?

1. Antioxidant effect: NAC can increase the level of glutathione (GSH) in the body, which is key cellular anti-oxidant raw materials that help protect cells from oxidative damage.
2. Anti-inflammatory effect: NAC can reduce the levels of inflammatory factors such as tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α) and interleukins (IL-6 and IL-1β), and exerts its effect by inhibiting the activity of nuclear factor κB (NF-κB).
3. Mucolytic: NAC contains sulfhydryl groups, which can cleave disulfide bonds in viscous sputum, reduce sputum viscosity, and make sputum easier to cough up; it also has a cleavage effect on DNA in purulent sputum.
4. Detoxification effect: NAC is a specific antidote for acetaminophen (paracetamol) overdose, contains antibacterial raw materials, can increase glutathione levels in liver cells, and reduce liver damage.

What are the uses?

1. Acetylcysteine ​​is pharmaceutical raw materials and can be used in pharmaceutical chemicals.
2. Respiratory diseases: NAC is used as a mucolytic agent to treat respiratory diseases with excessive thick sputum, such as acute bronchitis, acute exacerbation of chronic bronchitis, and bronchiectasis.
3. Liver protection: It is used for early treatment of liver failure, reducing bilirubin, increasing prothrombin activity, and as a precursor of reduced glutathione, it helps to remove oxygen free radicals in the body.
4. Ophthalmic diseases: NAC can be used to treat eye diseases such as punctate keratitis and herpes simplex keratitis. As a collagenase inhibitor, it reduces the decomposition of collagen in tissues and promotes corneal epithelial regeneration.
5. Detoxification: NAC is used to rescue acetaminophen poisoning and achieves the purpose of detoxification by increasing the synthesis of glutathione.
6. Other potential applications: including preventing the exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, preventing kidney damage caused by contrast agents, alleviating diseases caused by influenza viruses, treating pulmonary fibrosis, and treating infertility in patients with polycystic ovary syndrome resistant to clomiphene.