Volatile sulfur compound (VSC)

Volatile sulfur compounds (VSCs) are a chemically diverse group of low molecular weight, volatile, sulfur-containing organic molecules that include hydrogen sulfide, methanethiol, dimethyl sulfide, alkyl sulfides, disulfides, thiols, isothiocyanates, and thiophenes. VSCs are produced in biological systems by the enzymatic and chemical breakdown of sulfur-containing amino acids (such as methionine and cysteine) or glucosinolates, often during cellular metabolism, microbial fermentation (notably in the oral cavity and intestines), and food processing. They have important physiological roles, notably as mediators of odor and flavor in foods, as antimicrobial agents, as gasotransmitters (e.g., hydrogen sulfide in neuromodulation and vascular signaling), and as potential biomarkers in diseases such as halitosis, hepatic disorders, and inflammatory diseases. VSCs are not therapeutic targets themselves but may be relevant as disease markers or modulators in some therapeutic contexts. They are usually regarded at the level of their individual members, such as hydrogen sulfide, rather than as a unified molecular target.

Other names

VSCvolatile sulphur compoundvolatile sulfur compoundsVSCsvolatile S compound