Effect of garlic on isoniazid and rifampicin-induced hepatic injury in rats.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the hepatoprotective effect of garlic on liver injury induced by isoniazid (ZNH) and rifampicin (RIF).


METHODS
Wistar rats weighing 150-200 g were treated orally with 50 mg/kg of INH and RIF daily each for 28 d. For hepatoprotective studies, 0.25 g/kg per day of freshly prepared garlic homogenate was administered orally half an hour before the INH+RIF doses. Serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and bilirubin were estimated on d 0, 14, 21, and 28 in all the rats. Histological analysis was carried out to assess the injury to the liver. Lipid peroxidation (LPO) as a marker of oxidative stress and non-protein thiols (glutathione) for antioxidant levels were measured in liver homogenate.


RESULTS
The treatment of rats with INH+RIF (50 mg/kg per day each) induced hepatotoxicity in all the treated animals as judged by elevated serum ALT, AST, and bilirubin levels, presence of focal hepatocytic necrosis (6/8) and portal triaditis (8/8). Garlic simultaneously administered at a dose of 0.25 g/kg per day prevented the induction of histopathological injuries in INH+RIF co-treated animals, except in 4 animals, which showed only moderate portal triaditis. The histological changes correlated with oxidative stress in INH+RIF treated animals. The group which received 0.25 g/kg per day garlic homogenate along with INH+RIF showed higher levels of glutathione (P<0.05) and low levels of LPO (P<0.05) as compared to INH+RIF treated group.


CONCLUSIONS
Freshly prepared garlic homogenate protects against INH+RIF-induced liver injury in experimental animal model.
Department of Gastor PGIMER, Chd, House No. 137, Sector 15-A, Chandigarh 160015, India.
Ravinder
R
Pal
Kim
K
Vaiphei
Arbab
A
Sikander
Kartar
K
Singh
Satya V
SV
Rana
D000818:Animals; D005978:Glutathione / Q000378:metabolism; D007538:Isoniazid / Q000633:toxicity*; D015227:Lipid Peroxidation / Q000187:drug effects; D008099:Liver / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D012293:Rifampin / Q000633:toxicity*; D013438:Sulfhydryl Compounds / Q000032:analysis
D013438:Sulfhydryl Compounds; D005978:Glutathione; D007538:Isoniazid; D012293:Rifampin