Effect of gossypol on tissue levels of glutathione and thiobarbituric acid reactive products in rats.

Gossypol was administered in pubertal and adult rats and lipid peroxide formation and GSH levels were estimated in different tissues like liver, testis, heart and kidney. Gossypol caused low generation of lipid peroxides, measured as thiobarbituric acid reactive products (TBAR), without causing significant changes in tissue glutathione (GSH) levels. This effect was more pronounced in liver and testis as compared to other tissues. In vitro effect of gossypol to inhibit lipid peroxidation as observed in vivo suggested that binding of gossypol to plasma membranes may result in inhibition of lipid peroxide generation.