Allium sativum [Garlic] and its significance for the protection against lead-induced toxicity in albino rats: a biochemical and histological study on the liver, kidney and brain

ABSTRACT

A total of 140 albino rats were divided into 14 groups. Five male and another 5 female rats per each group The positive control group was given only 0.18 mg/kg/day garlic extract orally. Six groups were given 20, 40, 75, 155, 350 and 550 mg/kg/day lead acetate intraperitoneally respectively. Another six groups were given the same above-mentioned doses of lead acetate simultaneously with the same dose of garlic extract; and a negative control group. Twenty four hours after 4-consecutive weeks of injection, retro-orbital blood as well as blood from cardiac chambers was collected for subsequent determination of both hepatic and renal function tests. At the same time, the liver, kidneys and brain were ectomized for subsequent histological examination as well as determination of tissue- lead. The results showed that garlic significantly decreased both the concentrations of tissue-lead and the hepatic as well as renal function tests, but not to the initial values of the control groups. Furthermore, the histological changes observed in either the liver or kidney sections of lead treated rats which were pretreated with garlic were found to be less marked than those found in lead treated rats only. The results indicate that garlic contained chelating compounds which are capable of enhancing elimination of lead