Despite the increasing interest and use of NAC over decades, there remains much debate surrounding NAC’s mechanisms action. It was widely believed that exerts its antioxidant cytoprotective properties through ability to act as a scavenger reactive oxygen species, precursor for glutathione biosynthesis, disulfide reductant. However, these three major narratives are only applicable under specific...

N-Acetylcysteine (H2NAC) is a potent antioxidant, a precursor for cysteine and glutathione, and a potential antidote against certain metal ions such as cadmium and mercury. Little is known about the structural aspects of complexes formed between Hg(II) and N-acetylcysteine, despite many biological tests on its ability to bind to organic and inorganic mercury, and a few reports on formation cons...

1383–8. 7. Tepel M, van der Giet M, Schwarzfeld C, Laufer U, Liermann D, Zidek W. Prevention of radiographic-contrast-agent–induced reductions in renal function by acetylcysteine. N Engl J Med 2000;343: 180–4. 8. Durham JD, Caputo C, Dokko J, et al. A randomized controlled trial of N-acetylcysteine to prevent contrast nephropathy in cardiac angiography. Kidney Int 2002;62:2202–7. 9. Allaqaband ...

The high morbidity and mortality of severe sepsis and septic shock fosters a continuous search for novel therapies that go beyond pure correction of oxygenation and hemodynamics. Within this scope, N-acetylcysteine shows great promise. Beside proven anti-oxidant, anti-inflammatory and cytoprotective effects, N-acetylcysteine does also ensure endothelial protection and enhances microvascular blo...

The European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer multicenter Euroscan trial was set up to prevent the occurrence of second primary tumors in the upper aerodigestive and respiratory tract in patients cured for early stage head and neck squamous cell carcinoma. One randomized group of patients receive daily N-acetylcysteine, an antioxidant that may be protective especially in the ea...

Oxidative stress and especially its connection with many diseases has been discussed much recently. Among markers of oxidative stress there appear new and quite specific ones called advanced oxidation protein products (AOPPs). We tried to influence the level of AOPPs by an antioxidant therapy with N-acetylcysteine. Fourteen individuals with many cardiovascular risk factors were examined. All th...