[Metabolism of 4-carbomethoxythiazolidine chlorohydrate to cysteine through human expectorate and lung homogenates, and its action on glycoproteins of mucus].

A study has been carried out on the formation of -SH groups and of cysteine and cystine from 4-carbomethoxythiazolidin HCl through human expectorate mucus and lung homogenates. Both the expectorate and the homogenate, revealed to be able to metabolize TCM to cysteine releasing free -SH groups. The speed of cysteine formation is higher for the homogenate, but also the expectorate revealed to be very effective for the metabolization to cysteine. Furthermore it has been demonstrated that the TCM, incubated with human expectorate in presence and in absence of lung homogenate, can modify the chemical-physical characteristics of the mucus, rendering it more soluble and less viscous, i.e. displaying a mucolytic activity. These results account for the in-vitro experimental base to the observation that the product has a mucolytic activity whether administered by os or by aerosol.