N-acetyl-L-Cysteine amide

N-acetyl-L-Cysteine amide (CAS No.: 38520-57-9) is an n-acyl-alpha amino acid derivative and the amide analog of N-acetyl-L-cysteine, developed to enhance cellular and blood-brain barrier permeability and thereby improve intracellular antioxidant efficacy. As a thiol-containing compound, it functions primarily as a redox modulator and reactive oxygen species scavenger, supporting the maintenance of intracellular glutathione homeostasis and attenuating oxidative stress–induced damage. Mechanistically, it is associated with modulation of oxidative stress–responsive signaling pathways, including regulation of glutathione levels and suppression of pro-inflammatory transcription factors such as NF-κB and hypoxia-responsive elements such as HIF-1α, as well as downstream cytokine expression. In vitro studies demonstrate activity in the micromolar range, where it can mitigate glutamate-induced cytotoxicity and oxidative imbalance in neuronal cell models, while in vivo studies indicate neuroprotective and anti-inflammatory effects in models of traumatic brain injury and pulmonary inflammation. Owing to its enhanced membrane permeability relative to its parent compound, it is widely utilized in biomedical research to investigate oxidative stress, neurodegeneration, and inflammatory signaling, as well as in drug discovery programs targeting redox-related pathologies, with experimental concentrations or dosing regimens varying according to specific study designs and biological systems.