Allium sativum [Garlic] and its significance for the protection against lead-induced toxicity in albino fertility study: a male fertility study

ABSTRACT

A total of 70 mole albino rats were divided into 14 groups, 5 animals/group. The positive control group was given only 0.18 mg/kg garlic orally; six groups were given lead acetate ip in an average daily doses of 20, 40, 75, 155, 350 and 550 mg/kg respectively; another six groups were treated by the same previously - mentioned doses of lead acetate, but following the oral treatment of the same dose of garlic; and a negative control group. Twenty-four hours after 4-consecutive weeks of treatment, retro-orbital blood as well as blood from the cardiac chambers was collected for subsequent determination of both blood-lead and serum hormonal values of total testosterone, FSH, LH, and prolactin. At the same time, the testes were ectomized for subsequent histological examination, as well as determination of tissue-lead. Garlic significantly decreased the mean values of blood-lead concentraions, while those of testicular lead were non-significantly suppressed. Furthermore, garlic also non-significantly increased the mean values of hormones, which were totally suppressed by lead. Moreover, garlic imposed a protective action on some lead-induced histological abnormalities especially in rats treated by the smaller doses of lead. The results possibly indicate that garlic contained chelating compounds which arc capable of enhancing elimination of lead and improving the fertility status