The antioxidant properties of glutathione on male Albino rats administrated potassium bromate

Potassium bromate, also known as KBrO3, is an inorganic bromate salt that has sedative properties along with other similar compounds. Therefore, doctors prescribed it as a sedative-hypnotic, antiepileptic, or anxiolytic agent. Historically, people have also used it as a food additive to mature flour, enhance dough strength, and promote rising. However, because of its potential carcinogenicity, many countries have outlawed or severely restricted its use in food. The primary sources of KBrO3 exposure are bread and baked goods, flour, water treatment, and some dietary supplements. Workers who handle, manufacture, or use potassium bromate may also come into contact with it at work. We randomly selected forty adult male rats for the 12-week experiment and divided them into four equal groups. The first group (G1) was the negative control; the second group (G2) got KBrO3 orally once a day at a dose of 100 mg/kg BW; the third group (G3) got GSH intraperitoneally (IP) once a week at a dose of 250 mg/kg BW; and the fourth group (G4) got both KBrO3 and GSH orally once a day at a dose of 100 mg/kg BW. The results showed the serum testosterone levels and histological alterations in the testicular, liver, and kidney tissues. Following exposure to KBrO3, G3 and G4 showed a significant (P 0.05) decrease in serum testosterone concentrations. Elevated serum testosterone levels indicated a possible compromise in testicular function. Rats that received KBrO3 in G3 and G4 showed histopathological changes consistent with impaired liver, kidney, and testicular function