Aminoethylcysteine ketimine decarboxylated dimer (AECK-DD) is a natural sul
fur-containing tricyclic compound detected, until now, in human urine and b
ovine cerebellum. Recently, the antioxidant properties of this compound, an
d particularly its protective effect on the in vitro oxidation of low-densi
ty lipoproteinsi have been demonstrated. In this paper, the identification
of AECK-DD in human plasma by means of gas chromatography. high-performance
liquid chromatography and ps chromatography-mass spectrometry, performed a
fter a simple and fast purification procedure, is reported. (C) 1999 Elsevi
er Science B.V. All rights reserved.