protective role of the neurohormone [melatonin] and garlic against paraquat toxicity in albino rats

ABSTRACT

This study was carried out on 150 rats of both sexes to investigate the possible protective role of melatonin and fresh garlic homogenate [FGH] either alone or in combination against paraquat-induced toxicity. The rats were divided into ten equal groups One negative control, two positive controls and seven test groups. The test groups received paraquat 60 ng/kg single dose orally, melatonin 20 mg/kg orally and FGH 5 g/kg orally. Both melatonin and FGH were given with paraquat under variable conditions of timing. The rats were sacrificed 48 hours after paraquat administration. Liver and kidney functions were investigated in addition to light microscopic examination of the lung, liver and kidney. The study showed that the administration of melatonin and FGH either alone or in combination with paraquat did not show any significant improvement in paraquat- induced toxicity. On the other h and, melatonin or FGH 24 hours after paraquat showed a significant change in paraquat-induced damage, but melatonin appeared to be more potent than FGH