N-acetylcysteine is a chemical compound derived from N-acetyl and a prodrug of the endogenous amino acid L-cysteine. It occurs as a fine white powder.
What it is used for and where
It has long been used as an adjuvant in bronchitis in the role of fluidifying agent and expectorant of excessive mucus and also to counteract the toxicity of certain components such as doxorubicin, paracetamol, acute respiratory distress syndrome.
It is included in many dietary supplement formulas for its proven antioxidant and anti-inflammatory role with the ability to penetrate the blood-brain barrier and cell membrane.
It can be considered of great value in therapies to counter neurodegenerative and mental health diseases. Furthermore, this compound has been evaluated for its neuroprotective potential in the prevention of cognitive ageing dementia (1).
N-acetylcysteine is a sulfur-containing amino acid compound that has been tested for its protective potential in cardiac ischemia-reperfusion injury (2).
Overall N-acetylcysteine is easily absorbed into the human body and it is safe at doses of up to 300mg per kg body weight (3) however, there are documented risks if administered intravenously (4).
Typical optimal characteristics of the commercial product N-acetylcysteine
| Appearance | Fine white powder |
| Melting point | 106-108 °C |
| Boiling Point | 407.7±40.0 °C at 760 mmHg |
| Density | 1.249 |
| Flash Point | 200.4±27.3 °C |
| Exact Mass | 163.030319 |
| PSA | 105.20000 |
| LogP | -0.15 |
| Vapour Pressure | 0.0±2.0 mmHg at 25°C |
| Index of Refraction | 1.519 |
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- Molecular Formula : C5H9NO3S
- Linear Formula HSCH2CH(NHCOCH3)CO2H
- Molecular Weight: 163.2 g/mol
- CAS: 616-91-1
- EC Number: 210-498-3
- UNII WYQ7N0BPYC
- InChI=1S/C5H9NO3S/c1-3(7)6-4(2-10)5(8)9/h4,10H,2H2,1H3,(H,6,7)(H,8,9)/t4-/m0/s1
- InChl Key PWKSKIMOESPYIA-BYPYZUCNSA-N
- SMILES CC(=O)NC(CS)C(=O)O
- IUPAC (2R)-2-acetamido-3-sulfanylpropanoic acid
- ChEBI 28939
- DSSTox Substance ID: DTXSID5020021
- MDL number MFCD00004880
- PubChem Substance ID 329748885
- NACRES NA.24
Synonyms:
- (2R)-2-acetamido-3-sulfanylpropanoic acid
- NAC
- LAC
- acetylcysteine
