The interaction of various bismuth-containing pharmaceutical compounds (bismuth nitrate, bismuth citrate, and bismuth subsalicylate) with glutathione were investigated using cyclic voltammetry, UV-vis spectroscopy, and square wave voltammetry. Varying the scan rate of cyclic voltammetry was also utilized to further study the interactions of glutathione with bismuth compounds. Experiments were carried out in pH 1 nitric acid and hydrochloric acid to mimic stomach acid conditions. The presence of chloride affects the solubillity of bismuth compounds, which in turn affects how the bismuth copounds interact with glutathione. Experiments were carried out in pH 7.4 MOPS solution to simulate general biological conditions. In most cases, addition of glutathione to solutions containing bismuth compounds resulted in at least partial dissolution of the bismuth compounds. This increase in solubility was evident in cyclic voltammetric results at glassy carbon electrodes, for which increases in peak current were observed for bismuth reduction as glutathione was added. Studies of glutathione oxidation were also carried out at gold electrodes. UV-vis spectroscopy was also utilized by monitoring the peak at 340 nm wavelength indicating the formation of a bismuth-sulfur complex. Utilizing spectroscopic and electrochemical means, it was determined that both the pH and the starting bismuth compound have an effect on complex formation. These results indicate that these reactions are able to take place at various locations in the human body, which could lead to a better understanding of bismuth based pharmaceuticals.

Electrochemical and spectroscopic studies of glutathione with bismuth pharmaceuticals

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