Stabilization of erythrocyte reduced glutathione by malic acid

ABSTRACT

Malic acid and fumaric acid were found to protect intracellular red cell G-SH oxidation by drugs. The effect was mediated via G-6PD dependent pathway and therefore no such protective action could be demonstrated in G-6PD deficient RBC. The dependency on G-6PD and substrate specificity of the action suggested that it could not be due to non-specific factors such as pH and tonicity. The effect of malate seemed to be mediated via glucose-6-phosphate formation.