Thiazolidine-4-carboxylic acid, a physiologic sulfhydryl antioxidant with potential value in geriatric medicine.
Thiazolidine-4-carboxylic acid (TC) is a cyclic sulfur amino acid, a condensation product of cysteine and formaldehyde. The chemistry, biological effects and clinical use of TC are reviewed. Extensive animal experiments and studies on human subjects carried out in Europe indicate that a combination of TC and folic acid, 'Folcysteine', has revitalizing effects on age-related biochemical variables of blood and tissues. Further animal studies confirmed the anti-toxic effects of TC, particularly on the liver. The evidence accumulated so far suggests that addition of TC to the diet slows the aging process in mammals and prolongs their life span. On the other hand, findings suggesting that TC caused reverse transformation of tumor cells into normal cells and was effective against human cancers could not be confirmed in additional studies. TC has been clinically used for about 20 yr, mainly in the treatment of liver diseases and related gastrointestinal disturbances. Derivatives of TC with similar applications have been developed. Djenkolic acid is a naturally occurring relative of TC which is abundant in djenkol beans. The toxic effects of djenkolic acid and its possible conversion into TC are discussed.
D000368:Aged; D000818:Animals; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000378:metabolism / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D055598:Chemical Phenomena; D002621:Chemistry; D003545:Cysteine / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004285:Dogs; D004338:Drug Combinations / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005492:Folic Acid / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005767:Gastrointestinal Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy; D006801:Humans; D008107:Liver Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy; D008136:Longevity / Q000187:drug effects; D051379:Mice; D051381:Rats; D013844:Thiazoles / Q000378:metabolism / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D053778:Thiazolidines
D000975:Antioxidants; D004338:Drug Combinations; D013844:Thiazoles; D053778:Thiazolidines; C001642:folcysteine; D005492:Folic Acid; C003438:thiazolidine-4-carboxylic acid; D003545:Cysteine