ChEBI: N-acetyl-L-cysteine is an N-acetyl-L-amino acid that is the N-acetylated derivative of the natural amino acid L-cysteine. It has a role as an antiinfective agent, an antioxidant, an antiviral drug, an antidote to paracetamol poisoning, a vulnerary, a mucolytic, a human metabolite and a radical scavenger. It is a L-cysteine derivative, an acetylcysteine and a N-acetyl-L-amino acid. It is a conjugate acid of a N-acetyl-L-cysteinate.NCI Thesaurus (NCIt): Acetylcysteine is a synthetic N-acetyl derivative of the endogenous amino acid L-cysteine, a precursor of the antioxidant enzyme glutathione. Acetylcysteine regenerates liver stores of glutathione. This agent also reduces disulfide bonds in mucoproteins, resulting in liquification of mucus. Some evidence suggests that acetylcysteine may exert an anti-apoptotic effect due to its antioxidant activity, possibly preventing cancer cell development or growth. In addition, acetylcysteine has inhibited viral stimulation by reactive oxygen intermediates, thereby producing antiviral activity in HIV patients. (NCI04)