Onion and its active constituents against aging

Abstract

Aging is the normal transition time after a flurry of activity. Although there are quite a few age-related changes that tax the body, disability is not necessarily a part of aging. Health and lifestyle factors together with the genetic makeup of the individual, determine the response to these changes. In this study, we try to ameliorate the abnormalities accompanying aging by natural products known by their highly antioxidant effect.
In this pilot study thirty male aged rats (1.5-2 years old) (measured according to length of tail and weight of rats) were divided into three groups (10/each group); a control aged group, onion oil treated group and dipropyl disulphide (DPDS) treated group. Another thirty male adult rats (≈ 6 months old), had the same division as the aged ones. Biochemical measurements were done at the end of the experiment (4 weeks) to study the treatments effect on liver function, kidney function, metabolic effect, monoamines and fertility.
All the liver function indicators; AST, ALT, GGT, LDH, ALP and total bilirubin were significantly high (p<0.001) in the aged group and decreased significantly after treatments, while the adult groups were non-significantly changed. The measured kidney function biomarkers showed also the change only with aged and aged treated groups with a significant (p<0.001) decrease in total protein and albumin and an increase in urea and creatinine concentration, these changes ameliorated in the same manner with either onion oil or DPDS. The lipid profile showed a high  cholesterol, triglyceride concentration (p<0.05) and HDL and LDL concentration (p<0.001) but a nonsignificant increase in HDL concentration. The tested treatments succeed to improve (p<0.001) this lipid profile changes except HDL concentration. The monoamines level was decreased in the aged rats then increased significantly after treatments (p<0.05 with norepinephrine & serotonin and p<0.001 with dopamine). Taking testosterone as indicators for fertility, the treatments had a significant increment effect (p<0.001) on the decreased testosterone level of the aged rats.
The present pilot study demonstrate that onion oil and its active constituent are good fighters for aging while it do change on liver function, Kidney function, Protein, Lipid profile, monoamines and fertility hormones and need more study to prevent earlier aging.

Keywords: Onion oil, liver function, Kidney function, Protein, Lipid profile, monoamines.(dopamine, nor epinephrine, serotonin), testosterone, DPDS