J . Basic and Appl . Physiol . ( 2004 ) , 3 ( 2 ) : 255-272 Effects of garlic oil on certain physiological and biochemical aspects in normal and experimentally induced hyperlipidemia in male albino rats

Garlic (Allium sativum Linn.) is ascribed with many therapeutic effects. For the present study, garlic oil was investigated for their hypolipidemic effect on hyperlipidemia induced by cholesterol containing diet in albino rats.Fourty; adult male albino rats were used in these experiments. The experimental induction of hyperlipidemia was performed by the feeding of diet rich in cholesterol, cholic acid and thiouracil for 45 days. Four groups of 10 rats each were studied. Group I: control rats were fed a normal diet. Group II: hyperlipidemic rats were continued fed a hyperlipidemic diet (hyperlipidemic control). Group III: hyperlipidemic rats administrated with garlic oil (28 mg/Kg. body wt. Orally). Group IV: control rats received garlic oil at a dose of (28mg/kg. body wt. Orally). Blood samples were collected from all animal groups two times along the duration of the experiment 2 and 4 weeks after administration of garlic oil. Serum was separated and used directly for estimation of lipid components [total lipids, total cholesterol, triacylglycerols, phospholipids, non-esterified fatty acids (NEFA)]; lipoprotein fractions as high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) and very lowdensity lipoprotein cholesterol (VLDL-C) in addition to total protein and its components as well as immunoglobulins (IgG, IgA&IgM) concentrations. Also, serum lecithin-cholesterol acyltransferase (LCAT) and lipase activities were determined. The obtained results revealed that, there was a very highly significant increase in the value of serum total lipids, total cholesterol, triacylglycerols, phospholipids, NEFA, LDL-C and VLDL-C concentrations in rats fed a hyperlipidemic diet for 4 weeks, whereas serum HDL-C level showed a highly significant increase after two weeks, this increase became significant after 4 weeks . The activity of serum LCAT showed a very highly significant increase allover the experimental periods. However, the value of serum lipase activity showed a highly significant decrease after 2 weeks, this decrease became very highly significant after 4 weeks in hyperlipidemic rats, compared to rats fed on a normal diet. Administration of garlic oil to hyperlipidemic rats caused a very highly significant decrease in the value of serum total lipids, total cholesterol, triacylglycerols, phospholipids, LDL-C, VLDL-C concentrations and serum LCAT activity. On the other hand, serum NEFA level and lipase activity showed a very highly significant increase compared with hyperlipidemic control rats (group II). Administration of garlic oil to normal fed rats reduced the concentrations of serum total lipids, total cholesterol, triacylglycerols, and LDL-C and VLDL-C. However, serum NEFA and HDL-C levels showed a highly significant increase whereas, serum lipase activity was significantly increased. Feeding of hyperlipidemic diet caused a significant increase in serum albumin, alpha globulin and total globulin’s concentrations. Administration of garlic oil to hyperlipidemic rats caused a significant increase in the value of serum total proteins and total globulin’s concentrations. While, administration of garlic oil to normal fed rats caused a significant decrease in serum total proteins and significant decrease in serum albumin concentrations. The results of this study indicate that, garlic oil treatment almost nullified the lipid increasing effects of the experimental hyperlipidemia and its hyperlipidemic therapy has potential benefits in treatment of hyperlipidemia.