Gross and histological changes in the mammalian skin after garlic treatment

ABSTRACT

Crude extract of garlic was applied daily with a soft brush on the shaved outer surface of ears and gluteal skin of forty eight adult albino rabbits. They were divided into two groups comprising of 36 experimental and 12 control animals. Half of the animals, both experimental and control, were sacrificed after 15 days of treatment whereas rest of the animals were kept for another month without treatment and then sacrificed to see the delayed effects. The tissues were processed, sectioned and stained by four different stains. The epidermis was thickened and showed hyperkeratosis, acanthosis, epidermal microabscess formation while dermis showed oedema, disturbed collagen fibres, increased vascularity; decrease in hair follicles, sweat glands, sebaceous gland and presence of inflammatory cells. The changes in the skin persisted to some extent even after discontinuation of treatment for one month