Effects of various thiols on paraquat toxicity

It was demonstrated that cysteine and D-penicillamine are able to replace reduced glutathione to some extent in the glutathione peroxidase reaction. An in vivo study was made of the role played by--SH compounds in the antioxidant enzyme system involved in the detoxication of the LD50 of paraquat (PQ), and hence of their role in the detoxication of PQ. The effectiveness was D-PA greater than GSH greater then Cys in the liver and GSH greater than Cys greater than D-PA in the lung.