| Abstract: | Summary The author proposes to include in a new class of drugs: the  thioloprive drugs, all those substances which react in one way or another, with the thiol functions of proteins, cysteine or glutathione. This class includes oxidizing agents, heavy metals, maleic acid and halogenated organic substances like mustard gas, lewisite or monoiodoacetic acid. The creation of this new pharmacological family is justified by the fact that these varied substances have many common toxic effects (Lundsgaard contracture, cytotoxic action,  dema), that they inhibit the same enzymes, and that a logical interpretation of many of their actions is possible on the basis of their reaction with the thiol groups. |
