Preventive role of fresh garlic on high-fat diet induced fatty liver in albino rats

ABSTRACT

Obesity has become a worldwide problem due to westernization of diet, even in developing countries leading to consumption of high-fat diet. One of the most common diseases resulting from use of high-fat diet is fatty liver. Garlic is one of the oldest herbs used for medicinal purposes since ancient times. So the present study was undertaken to observe the protective role of fresh garlic on high-fat diet induced fatty liver in albino rats and correlate the results with previous studies. Thirty adult albino rats, weighing from 200-240 gram were taken for this study. The rats were divided into 3 groups according to dietary regimen, Group A received control diet, Group B received high- fat diet [20 ml corn oil in 100 gm of diet] and Group C received high-unsaturated fat diet with fresh garlic [20 ml corn oil with 6 gm fresh garlic in 100 gm of diet], for 8 weeks at the end of which they were sacrificed and tissue slides stained with haematoxylin and eosin. There was marked increase in weights in rats receiving high fat diet. Haematoxylin and eosin stained sections showed moderate fatty infiltration with empty spaces in hepatocytes with absent or pyknotic nuclei in high-fat group which were preserved to a great extent in group receiving fresh garlic along with high-fat diet. This study has proved that use of fresh garlic along with high-fat diet prevents its damaging effects in liver to a great extent