HYPOGLYCAEMIC AND HEPATORENAL TOXICITY OF ORAL ADMINISTRATION OF GLUTATHIONE COMPLEX ON ALLOXAN-INDUCED DIABETIC RATS 1 Muhammad, S.S., 1 Kiru, A. I., 2 Abdulazeez, M. A. and 1* Abubakar, S. M. 1 Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences, Bayero University Kano, Nigeria 2 Center for Biotechnology Research, Bayero University Kano, Nigeria *Corresponding Author: smabubakar.bch@buk.edu.ng Introduction Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a complex disease accompanied by multiple complications. It is multi-faceted metabolic disorder where there is increased oxidative stress. This has prompted several investigations into the use of antioxidants as a complementary therapeutic approach (Mandrup-poulsen, 1998; David and Gardner, 2011). Data collected from clinical studies indicate that majority of the diabetic patients die due to cardiovascular diseases and atherosclerosis, which accounts for about 8 to 10% of all diabetic deaths. The established relationship between DM and atherosclerosis has fueled suggestion to search for antidiabetic drugs with beneficial effects in reducing the atherosclerotic process in diabetic patients (Hokanson, 2002). Hyperglycemia is attributed to the development of diabetic complications. Hyperglycemia leads to increase in oxidative stress due to the overproduction of free radicals and decreased efficiency of antioxidant defense system. It occurs particularly in patients with poor glycemic control (Wiernsperger, 2003). The stability and capacity of antioxidant status during chronic diabetes have a great influence on the outcome of the long-term complications caused by oxidative stress (Shi and Hu, 2014). Glutathione complex (GC) is an enhanced nutritional supplement that contains natural antioxidants which are believed to be safe and effective in improving the overall health status of the body. Abstract Background: Indiscriminate usage of glutathione complex (GC) tablets by women mainly for skin care and as antidiabetic has been an issue of concern. Aim: This study was undertaken to evaluate the hypoglycemic and hepatorenal toxicity of GC on alloxan-induced diabetic rats. Methods: Thirty Wistar albino rats (weighing 120 - 130g) were divided into six groups of five rats each. Group I is normal control, group II is diabetic control, groups III, IV, V and VI are diabetic rats orally treated with daily doses of 2.4, 3.6, 4.8 and 7.8 mg/kg body weight GC for 4 weeks. Serum glucose, aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), and alkaline phosphatase (ALP), bilirubin, total protein, albumin, urea, creatinine, sodium (Na + ), potassium (K + ), chloride (Clˉ), and bicarbonate (HCO 3 ˉ) levels were determined and compared between groups. Results: Results showed significant (P < 0.05) decrease in serum glucose level, kidney and liver function markers when groups III to VI were compared with groups I and II. There were no significant (P > 0.05) changes in the serum levels of liver and kidney function markers between groups I and II. Conclusion: These results suggest that oral administration of GC at up to 7.8 mg/kg body weight for 4 weeks may have hypoglycaemic action but may not be toxic to liver and kidney of rats. Keywords: Glutathione complex; diabetes; hepatorenal toxicity; diabetic rats. Citation: Muhammad, S.S., Kiru, A. I., Abdulazeez, M. A., Abubakar, S. M. (2017): Hypoglycaemic and Hepatorenal Toxicity of Oral Administration of Glutathione Complex on Alloxan-Induced Diabetic Rats BJMLS. 2(1): 102 - 110 Muhammad et al. (2017) BJMLS, 2(1):102 – 110 ISSN 2545 - 5672 102