Protective effects of Allium sativum on carbon tetrachloride-induced hepatotoxicity in rats

The antihepatoxic effect of Allium sativum L. (garlic) and its possible mechanism of action were investigated in rats treated with carbon tetrachloride (CCl4). The activities of hepatic enzymes; alkaline phosphatase (ALP), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), asparate aminotransferase (AST), and levels of total protein and albumin were determined in serum, whereas the levels of thiobarbituric acid reactive-substances (TBARS) and glutathione (GSH) were assayed in liver homogenate. CCl4 (0.5ml/kg; i.p.) administered consecutively for 7 day resulted in significant increases in activities of ALP, ALT and AST, and the level of TBARS in the liver. Conversely, CCl4 administration led to significant decreases in serum concentrations of total protein and albumin, and GSH content in the liver. Concomitant treatment of A. sativum (800 mg/kg; orally) or vitamin C (400 mg/kg; orally) with CCl4 for 7 consecutively days, significantly (p<0.05) prevented the CCl4-induced alterations in the activities of liver marker enzymes as well as serum levels of total protein, albumin, and TBARS and GSH content of liver. These results suggest that A. sativum exerts protective action against CCl4 -induced hepatotoxicity, possibly due to its antioxidant property.