Efficacy of co-administration of garlic extract and metformin for prevention of gentamycine-renal toxicity in wistar rats: a biochemical study

Gentamicin [GM] nephrotoxicity has been related to oxidative stress. Garlic and metformin [MF] have anti-oxadant activity and therefore, this study was aimed to evaluate the preventive and curative effects of garlic, MF and their combination on GM indeced tubular toxicity in Wistar rats. In a pre-clinical study, 70 male Wistar rats were randomly designated into 7 groups of 10 and treated as follows: Group 1: Received saline for 20 days. Group 2: Were injected 100 mg/kg/d of GM intraperitoneally [ip], for 10 days and saline for 10 more days. Group 3: Received GM for 10 days then 20 mg/kg garlic ip for the next 10 days. Group 4: Received GM for 10 days and MF [100 mg/kg] orally for the next 10 days. Group 5: Received GM for 10 days and a combination of MF and garlic for the next 10 days [100 and 20 mg/kg, respectively]. Group 6: The same as group 5but with half-doses of MF and Garlic. Group 7: Received GM for 10 days together with a combination ofMF and garlic. On 20th day of the experiment the serum blood urea nitrogen [BUN] and creatinine [Cr] were measured and compared in different groups. GM injection significantly increased the serum BUN and Cr [P < 0.05]. Administration of MF, garlic or their combination with or after injection of GM [high doses] could atenuate BUN and Cr. The results indicate that MF and garlic or their combination have curative and protective activity against GM nephrotoxicity