Korean J Prev Med.  2002 Aug;35(3):221-228.

The Protective Effects of Garlic against Carbon tetrachloride-induced Hepatotoxicity

• Choi BS
• Lee JM
• Park JD
• Hong YP

Abstract

OBJECTIVES
The purpose of this study was to find the protective effects of garlic on the halogenated hydrocarbon induced hepatotoxicities, and the possible protection mechanisms involved.
METHODS
Male Sprague-Dawley rats received garlic (0.5 %) or regular diet, for 4 weeks. This was followed by a single dose of corn oil (the controls), carbon tetrachloride (400mg/kg body weight) and trichloroethylene (2,000mg/kg body weight) being administered to each diet group. Blood samples were collected 24 hours following the administration, and the serum aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) activities measured. The liver samples were studied for their cytochrome P450 and CYP2E1 contents, lipid peroxidation and histopathology.
RESULTS
The results for the group receiving the 0.5 % garlic diet showed a slight decrease of CYP2E1 expression compared with the regular diet group. Carbon tetrachloride was significantly decreased the CYP2E1 contents in both the regular and garlic diet groups, but the trichloroethylene remained unchanged. Garlic did not decrease the lipid peroxidation of the liver in the control group, but attenuated the increase of lipid peroxidation caused by carbon tetrachloride. Garlic attenuated the increase of both the serum AST and ALT activities caused by carbon tetrachloride. The histopathological observations also showed that garlic attenuated centrilobular necrosis and vacuolar degenerative changes significantly in the carbon tetrachloride treated group.
Conclusions
: The results indicate that garlic attenuates the carbon tetrachloride-induced hepatotoxicity, through the prevention of the metabolic activation and lipid peroxidation.

Keyword

Garlic; Carbon tetrachloride; Trichloroethylene; Liver/injuries; Protective agents

MeSH Terms

Alanine Transaminase
Aspartate Aminotransferases
Biotransformation
Carbon Tetrachloride
Carbon*
Corn Oil
Cytochrome P-450 CYP2E1
Cytochrome P-450 Enzyme System
Diet
Garlic*
Humans
Lipid Peroxidation
Liver
Male
Necrosis
Protective Agents
Rats, Sprague-Dawley
Trichloroethylene
Alanine Transaminase
Aspartate Aminotransferases
Carbon
Carbon Tetrachloride
Corn Oil
Cytochrome P-450 CYP2E1
Cytochrome P-450 Enzyme System
Protective Agents
Trichloroethylene