N-monoacetylcystine is monoacetylated derivative of L-cystine, a covalently linked dimeric nonessential aminoacid formed by the oxidation of cysteine. N-monoacetylcystine is accumulated in the plasma of uraemic patients.

Polaprezinc is a zinc-containing molecule and used for the therapy of gastric ulcer. It has been reported that this compound inhibits the induction of TNF-a as well as cellular signaling of TNF-a. Polaprezinc has been shown to exert an anti-oxidant property in a tube experiment and accelerate the healing of gastric ulcer in humans. Polaprezinc inhibited EtOH-induced cytochrome c reduction. Protection by polaprezinc was microscopically associated with the prevention of monolayer disruption. In an animal model of chemotherapy-induced oral mucositis polaprezinc improves the recovery from 5-fluorouracil–induced oral mucositis in hamsters. Polaprezinc ameliorates mucosal ulceration in acetic acid-induced experimental oral mucositis in hamsters. Polaprezinc is potentially useful for prevention of oral mucositis and improvement of quality of life without reducing the tumor response. Polaprezinc is in phase II clinical trial for the treatment of taste disorders.