A study of the possible protective role of onion and garlic volatile oils [electronic resource].

Includes reference.

This study has put stress on the capability of onion and garlic oils as chemopreventive agents in relieving and detoxifying the aflatoxin B1 (AFB₁) and carbon tetrachloride (CCI₄). Both AFB₁ and CCl₄ are known as carcinogenic agents. The hepato-carcinogenicity effect was studied by evaluation of glutathione-S-hydrogenase and glutathione-S-transferase activity in liver tissues of rats treated with AFB₁ - CCI₄. This study was carried out on rats weighting 110-130g each. The AFB₁ was used in a dose of 6 mg/kg b. wt., CCl₄ in a dose of 0.05 mg/kg b.wt. and onion and garlic oils in a dose of600 mg/kg b. wt. Rats were treated for 16 weeks. They were divided into 6 groups randomly as follows: Group I: received saline and served as a control group. Group II: rats were treated with AFB₁ for 4 weeks, then, CCl₄ for 8 weeks, then, 4 weeks without any treatment. Group III: rats were treated with the same regimen as in group II till the end of the 12 th week, then, they received onion oil for another 4 weeks. Group IV: rats were treated with the same regimen as in group II till the end of the 12th week, then, they received garlic onion oil for another 4 weeks. Group V: rats were treated with onion oil in the first 4 weeks and then treated with AFBl for 4 weeks followed by treatment with CCl₄ for 8 weeks. Group VI: rats were treated with garlic oil in the first 4 weeks and then treated with AFBI for 4 weeks followed by treatment with CCl₄ for 8 weeks. Treating rats with AFB₁ -CCI₄ exerted gradual increase in GSH level up to the twelfth week and then it tended to decrease by preventing further ASFB₁ -CC₄ application up to the sixteenth week. The relative weights (% of body weight) of liver increased during the first 12 weeks in rats compared with the control group. On the other hand, rats treated with onion and garlic oils before AFB₁ +CCI₄ application depressed the increase of the relative weight of liver organ. Data obtained clearly indicated that administration of both onion and garlic oils have relieved the liver damage induced by treating rats with AFB₁ +CCI₄. Oil samples diminished total bilirubin levels nearly to the normal level (control group), even when oil samples administrated before or after AFB₁ +CCI₄ treatment, with the exception of onion oil samples fed after AFB₁ +CCI₄ application, which exerted somewhat lower levels than control group. A depressive effect of AFB₁ +CCI₄ was noticed on all levels of total protein, albumin, globulin, and A/G ratio compared with the control group. Either onion or garlic oils enhanced the accumulation of protein fraction, they effectively regulated A/G ratio after 16 weeks in rats treated with AFB₁ +CCI₄. In general, treating rats with either onion or garlic essential oils resulting in chemopreventive impacts, as decreased the elevation in both urea and creatinine concentrations throughout the experimental period (16 weeks).

Summary in Arabic.

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