The effect of glutathione as adjuvant therapy on levels of TNF-α and IL-10 in wistar rat peritonitis model

BACKGROUND: Peritonitis is the second most common cause of severe sepsis that associated with a significant mortality rate. Due to a large gap of newer antibiotics innovation and antibiotic resistance emergence, the use of antioxidant has a possible alternative as adjuvant therapy in peritonitis management. It has been studied that glutathione as an alternative in the development of new anti-inflammatory effect. Thus, the aim of this study was to evaluate the levels of TNF-α and IL-10 after glutathione administration as adjuvant therapy in rat peritonitis model. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Male wistar rats were divided into four groups (n = 6 per group), Group 1: control group (C), Group 2: peritonitis group (P), Group 3: peritonitis + Ceftriaxone group (P + Cef), Group 4: peritonitis + Ceftriaxone + Glutathione group (P + Cef + Glu). Twenty-four hours after peritonitis induction, the blood samples were taken to evaluate TNF-α and IL-10 levels. RESULTS: There was a significantly increase of mean TNF-α level in group 2 (P) 473,86 ± 388,99 pg/ml (p value 0,00) and significantly decrease of mean TNF-α level after glutathione injection in group 4 (P + Cef + Glu) (p value 0,02). No significant changes in IL-10 levels in rats peritonitis model. CONCLUSIONS: Glutathione supplementation is significantly decrease the mean level of TNF-α in rats induced peritonitis, however there is no difference compare to antibiotic only. Moreover, there no significant changes level of IL-10 in rats induced peritonitis after glutathione injection.