Glutathione for Parkinson’s and Schizophrenia

Glutathione transferases catalyse the detoxication of oxidized metabolites (o-quinones) of catecholamines and may serve as an antioxidant system preventing degenerative cellular processes.

S Baez, J Segura-Aguilar, M Widersten, 
Biochem J. 1997 May 15; 324(Pt 1): 25-28.

 

Abstract

o-Quinones are physiological oxidation products of catecholamines that contribute to redox cycling, toxicity and apoptosis, i.e. the neurodegenerative processes underlying Parkinson’s disease and schizophrenia. The present study shows that the cyclized o-quinones aminochrome, dopachrome, adrenochrome and noradrenochrome, derived from dopamine, dopa, adrenaline and noradrenaline respectively, are efficiently conjugated with glutathione in the presence of human glutathione transferase (GST) M2-2. The oxidation product of adrenaline, adrenochrome, is less active as a substrate for GST M2-2, and more efficiently conjugated by GST M1-1. Evidence for expression of GST M2-2 in substantia nigra of human brain was obtained by identification of the corresponding PCR product in a cDNA library. Glutathione conjugation of these quinones is a detoxication reaction that prevents redox cycling, thus indicating that GSTs have a cytoprotective role involving elimination of reactive chemical species originating from the oxidative metabolism of catecholamines. In particular, GST M2-2 has the capacity to provide protection relevant to the prevention of neurodegenerative diseases.

 

DR. WEEKS’  COMMENT:   Glutathione, optimally given intravenously (IV),  is very beneficial for a number of degenerative illnesses such as MS, ALS,  Parkinson’s, Autism and Schizophrenia.  If your doctor won’t give you IV glutathione,  ask him or her to call us here at the Weeks Clinic for more scientific support. 

We now offer an oral version which is liposomally stabilized glutathione. While not as  potent as the IV version, it is very many of our patients concerned with protecting cognitive function (memory etc.) as well as for protecting cardiac function.