Study Explains How Foul-Smelling Hydrogen Sulfide is Beneficial to Health

Low doses of hydrogen sulfide benefits people with diabetes, heart diseases and strokes, according to a study.

Hydrogen Sulfide emits a foul smell in the intestinal track during digestion. The chemical, which is often described as having a 'rotten egg' smell, is released in minute quantities by the enzymes when the body cells undergo distress caused by certain diseases. This in turn supplies energy to the mitochondria or power houses of cells to control inflammation without destroying cells, reports the Financial Express.

Researchers at the Exeter University found taking hydrogen sulfide in small quantities and delivering them to target cells helps fight against deadly diseases. For this purpose experts developed a new compound, AP39 that treats conditions like stroke, dementia, diabetes, arthritis and aging by preventing mitochondrial death and even restoring its functioning.

"When cells become stressed by disease, they draw in enzymes to generate minute quantities of hydrogen sulfide. This keeps the mitochondria ticking over and allows cells to live. If this doesn't happen, the cells die and lose the ability to regulate survival and control inflammation," said Matt Whiteman, study author and professor at the University of Exeter's medical school, reports the Western Daily Press.

"We have exploited this natural process by making a compound, called AP39, which slowly delivers very small amounts of this gas specifically to the mitochondria. Our results indicate that if stressed cells are treated with AP39, mitochondria are protected and cells stay alive," he adds.

The study examined the compounds' efficacy on many disease models and noted about 80 percent of mitochondria survived in extremely damaging conditions like heart diseases.

"Although hydrogen sulfide is well known as a pungent, foul-smelling gas in rotten eggs and flatulence, it is naturally produced in the body and could in fact be a healthcare hero with significant implications for future therapies for a variety of diseases," said Mark Wood, a fellow researcher at the University of Exeter.

The authors believe further investigation is needed before testing the effects of the compound on humans.

More information is available online in the journal Medicinal Chemistry Communications.