ABSTRACT
Garlic is used world wide to give flavor to foods as pecols ect. by different nations specially by Iranian society. The dominant believe is, the garlic therapeutic effects on patients with gastric discomfort and digesting problems. In this study we aimed to investigate the garlic effect on gastric acid and pepsin in both basic and stimulated condition by electrical stimulus of vogues nerve in rat. In an experimental study two groups of 12 wistar rats were selected, to make the animal unconscious, 50[mg/kg] Sodium tiopantal were given ip. and each rat was tracheostomized, laparatomized, gastrodeodbnostomized and then 100[mg/kg] of garlic extract dissolved in 9% saline was introduced to stomach of animal. The vagus nerves of both side of the neck released from carotid sheet and stimulated with ISmillivolts, frequency 4 Herts and 1 milisecond wide. The stomach secretions then washed out in following stages; first base, second base, vagus stimulated conditions and reverse to base. The acid amounts of washing were measured by titrometry and pepsin amounts were measured with Anson technique. The acid and pepsin secretion were significantly increased in rats received garlic extracts [p<0.000 p<0.05 respectively]. Stimulation by vagus nerves in control group significantly increased the level of acid [p<0.05] and pepsin [p<0.05] and garlic treated group had similar secretion rate to stimulated group. Furthermore there were no significant relationship between sex of studied rats. Consumption of garlic in the diet has lots of benefits for digestion of foods, so it can be beneficial for those patients with digestive problems, however it should be noted that people with digestive dysfunction related to increased level of gastric acid or pepsin must avoid garlic consumption. Therefore patient with gastritis and duodenal ulcer are not allowed to take garlic in their diet