In vivo evidence of hepato- and reno-protective effect of garlic oil against sodium nitrite-induced oxidative stress [Abstract]

In vivo evidence of hepato- and reno-protective effect of garlic oil against sodium nitrite-induced oxidative stress

Hanaa A Hassan¹, Sherif M El-Agmy¹, Rajiv L Gaur², Augusta Fernando², Madhwa HG Raj³, Allal Ouhtit^{2 ✉}

1. Department of Zoology, Faculty of Science, Mansoura University, Mansoura, Egypt;
2. Department of Pathology and Department of Genetics, Stanley S. Scott Cancer Center, Louisiana State University Health Science Center, New Orleans, Louisiana, USA;
3. Department of Ob Gyn and Biochemistry, Stanley S. Scott Cancer Center, Louisiana State University Health Science Center, New Orleans, Louisiana, USA.

Sodium nitrite (NaNO₂), a food color fixative and preservative, contributes to carcinogenesis. We investigated the protective role of garlic oil against NaNO₂-induced abnormalities in metabolic biochemical parameters and oxidative status in male albino rats. NaNO₂ treatment for a period of three months induced a significant increase in serum levels of glucose, aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), bilirubin, urea and creatinine as well as hepatic AST and ALT. However, significant decrease was recorded in liver ALP activity, glycogen content, and renal urea and creatinine levels. In parallel, a significant increase in lipid peroxidation, and a decrease in glutathione content and catalase activity were observed in the liver and the kidney. However, garlic oil supplementation showed a remarkable amelioration of these abnormalities. Our data indicate that garlic is a phytoantioxidant with powerful chemopreventive properties against chemically-induced oxidative stress.

Keywords: Food additives, Sodium nitrite, Oxidative stress, Garlic oil, Liver, glycogen, Alanine aminotransfrase, Aspartate aminotransfrease, Alkaline phoasphatase

How to cite this article:
Hassan HA, El-Agmy SM, Gaur RL, Fernando A, Raj MHG, Ouhtit A. In vivo evidence of hepato- and reno-protective effect of garlic oil against sodium nitrite-induced oxidative stress. Int J Biol Sci 2009; 5:249-255. Available from http://www.biolsci.org/v05p0249.htm