INDUCTION OF RAT HEPATIC AND INTESTINAL GLUTATHIONE S-TRANSFERASES BY DIETARY BUTYLATED HYDROXYANISOLE

To obtain insight into the protection mechanism of butylated hydroxyanisole (BHA), a widely used food preservative with anticarcinogenic properties, we investigated the effects of dietary BHA on rat hepatic and intestinal glutathione S-transferase (GST) enzyme activity, and GST isozyme levels. In the proximal small intestine and liver, BHA supplementation significantly increased GST enzyme activity as compared with controls (2.3- and 1.7-fold, respectively, P < 0.05). GST class-alpha and mu contents were significantly higher only in the small intestine (1.6-2. 1-fold and 1.3-1.5-fold, respectively, P < 0.05), whereas GST class-pi was significantly induced in liver (4.6-fold, P < 0.05).