Gulnaz H, Tahir M, Munir B, Sami W.
Protective effects of garlic oil on acetaminophen induced nephrotoxicity in male albino rats.
Biomedica Jan ;26(1):9-15.

Introduction: Acetaminophen is a severe hepatotoxic and nephrotoxic drug. This study was undertaken to examine the preventive effects of garlic oil, obtained by steam distillation of crushed garlic, on acetaminophen induced nephrotoxicity in male albino rats. Materials and Methods: Twenty four albino rats, 6-8 weeks old, weighing 150-200 gm, were used; these were divided into four groups having six rats in each. Group I served as control and was given normal saline 5ml/kg intraperitoneally on 7th day of the experiment. Group II was treated with a single dose of acetaminophen (1000 mg/kg) dissolved in 5 ml of normal saline, given intraperitoneally on 7th day of the experiment. Group III was given orally garlic oil, 100 mg/kg in 1ml of corn oil, daily for one week before giving an intraperitoneal injection of acetaminophen on 7th day of experiment. Group IV was treated with corn oil orally, 1 ml/kg for one week. At the end of the experiment, the animals were anaesthetized under chloroform and blood from each animal was drawn by cardiac puncture for renal function tests. The animals were then sacrificed under anaesthesia and the kidneys were removed; these were normal in gross appearance with no significant difference between control and experimental groups. Slides were prepared for histological study; these were stained with H & E and PAS, examined under light microscope, evaluated by using the different parameters including measurement of size of glomeruli and nuclei of epithelial cells of proximal and distal convoluted tubules. Results: Statistical analysis showed that garlic oil pretreatment significantly reduced acetaminophen induced nephrotoxicity as evidenced by amelioration of histological changes in size of glomerulus from 51.50 +/- 3.60μ in group II to 84.63 +/- 2.89 μ in group III (p < 0.001). Garlic oil also reduced deleterious effects of acetaminophen on tubules of kidney as evidenced by absence of vacuolation and granularity of epithelial cells of proximal and distal convoluted tubules and, protein casts in thick ascending limb of loop of Henle in all rats of group III. Value of serum urea was restored from 95.28 +/- 2.90 mg/dl in group II to 65.15 +/- 2.68 mg/dl in group III (p < 0.001) and that of serum creatinine from 2.71 +/- 0.68 mg/dl in group II to 1.73 +/- 0.04 mg/dl in group III (p < 0.03). It was therefore, concluded from current results that garlic oil is useful in protecting acetaminophen induced nephrotoxicity.

PakMediNet -Pakistan's largest Database of Pakistani Medical Journals - http://www.pakmedinet.com