Effects of butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT) on the level of glutathione and the activity of glutathione-S-transferase in rat liver.

Oral administration of 500 mg/kg of butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT) daily for three days elevated the total glutathione (GSH) level and the activities of GSH-S-transferase for CDNB and DCNB and GSSG reductase in the rat liver. BHT-alcohol, which is a metabolite of BHT, also elevated the level or activity of these components. The induction of these components with BHT-alcohol was slightly less than that with BHT. However, BHT or BHT-alcohol in doses used had no effect on GSH peroxidase activity.