Actions of N-acetylcysteine in the central nervous system: implications for the treatment of neurodegenerative and neuropsychiatric disorders

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Title: Actions of N-acetylcysteine in the central nervous system: implications for the treatment of neurodegenerative and neuropsychiatric disorders
Author(s): Camfield, David
Abstract: N-Acetylcysteine (NAC) is the N-acetyl derivative of cysteine, and is less reactive, less toxic, and less susceptible to oxidation than cysteine, as well as being more soluble in water. For these reasons it is a better source of cysteine than the parenteral administration of cysteine itself. NAC is rapidly absorbed, with time to peak plasma levels (t max) being 1.4 +/- 0.7 h following oral administration. The average elimination half-life (t 1/2) has been reported to be 2.5 +/- 0.6 h. The bioavailability of NAC increases according to the dose, with the peak serum level being on average 16 μmol/L after 600 mg and 35 μmol/L after 1200 mg. When taken orally NAC is readily taken up in the stomach and gut and sent to the liver where it is converted almost entirely to cysteine and used for glutathione (GSH) synthesis. Cysteine that is not converted to GSH is capable of crossing the blood-brain barrier by means of sodium-dependent transport systems.
Publication type: Book chapter
Research centre: Swinburne University of Technology. Faculty of Life and Social Sciences. Centre for Human Psychopharmacology
Source: Advances in natural medicines, nutraceuticals and neurocognition / Con Stough and Andrew Scholey (eds.), Chapter 3, pp. 29-42
Publication year: 2013
Keyword(s): Central nervous system; N-acetylcysteine; Neurodegenerative disorders; Neuropsychiatric disorders; Treatment
Publisher: CRC Press
ISBN: 9781439893609
Publisher URL: http://www.crcpress.com/product/isbn/9781439893609
Peer reviewed