Thiotaurines (inci)

"Thio..." refers to sulphur as a constituent of the molecule, "taurine" from "tauros" Greek for "bull", the 2-aminoethanesulphonic acid, a colourless and odourless organic acid with the molecular formula C2H7NO3S. Taurine has one sulphonic acid group and another amino group.

Thiotaurine is used in cosmetic formulations. The substance acts as an antioxidant (inhibits oxidation processes caused by oxygen and thus the degradation and spoilage of ingredients) and as a reducing agent (changes other ingredients by reduction, i.e. adding hydrogen or removing oxygen).

Thiotaurine is a metabolic product of cysteine. In experimental approaches, the substance induces an inhibition of neutrophilic leukocytes (Capuozzo E et al 2013). This mechanism is explained by an inhibition of the apoptotic caspase-3 activity. In animal experimental approaches thiotaurins have a protective effect on diabetic nephropathy (Pandya KG et al. 2013)

1. Capuozzo E et al (2013) Thiotaurine prevents apoptosis of human neutrophils: a putative role ininflammation. Adv Exp Med Biol 775:227-236.
2. Pandya KG et al (2013) Comparative evaluation of taurine and thiotaurine as protectants against diabetes-induced nephropathy in a rat model. Adv Exp Med Biol. 2013;775:371-94.