tert-Butylhydroquinone (TBHQ) is a phenolic antioxidant. TBHQ is frequently used as a food preservative. In low concentrations it shows cytoprotective qualities while at higher concentrations it exhibits cytotoxic behavior.
At low concentrations, it is used as an antioxidant in fat-containing foods, in edible fats and oils, and as a preservative and antioxidant in cosmetic formulations.
Doses of TBHQ ranged from 20 to 70 mg.
Tert-butyl hydroquinone (TBHQ) is an aromatic compound that is commonly used as a preservative in processed food to prevent rancidity and lengthen shelf life. TBHQ is known to act as an antioxidant by protecting cells from radical oxygen species and thus preventing DNA damage.