Protective effect of Allium sativa extract against carbon tetrachloride- induced hepatic oxidative stress and hyperlipidemia in rats

Abstract

Pathogenesis of several chronic liver diseases has been attributed to overwhelmed antioxidant protective system against reactive oxygen species (ROS). The present study ascertained the capacity of short-term administration of ethanolic extract of Allium sativa to neutralize ROS and ameliorate hyperlipidemia. Hyperlipidemia was induced in rats by single intra-peritoneal injection of CCl₄ (dosage = 2.0 mL/kg), followed by treatment with ethanolic extract of A. sativa (dosage: 200 and 400 mg/kg) at a regular interval of 16 for 64 h. Blood samples were drawn from the rats at t = 0 h and t = 76 h, that is, 12 h after the end of 64 h treatment with CCl₄/A. sativa extract, to ascertain for hepatic function and serum lipid profile (SLP). In addition, liver post mitochondrial supernatant (PMS) fraction was measured for oxidative stress indicators: lipid peroxidation (LPOx), superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), catalase (CAT) and reduced glutathione (GSH). On the average, short-term administration of ethanolic extract of A. sativa caused reduction of SLP in the following magnitude: total cholesterol (TC) = 19.48%, triacylglycerol (TAG) = 48.59%, VLDL-C = 48.57%, LDL-C = 19.49% and increase in HDL-C = 32.43%. Also, improvement in oxidative stress indicators gave SOD = 10.20%, GPx = 30.92%, CAT = 18.18%, LPOx = 35.92% and GSH = 51.09%. Although the administration of A. sativa extract to the rats did not restore full therapeutic benefits within the experimental time (t = 76 h), the capacity of the plant extract to ameliorate oxidative stress and hyperlipidemia in the animals was fairly at par with the standard hepatic drug-hepaticum.

Keywords: Allium sativa, hepatocyte, hyperlipidemia, lipid profile, oxidative stress

African Journal of Biotechnology,Vol 13(15), 1671-1678