garlic
Antithrombotic activity of garlic: its inhibition of the synthesis of thromboxane-B2 during infusion of arachidonic acid and collagen in rabbits.

Ali M, Thomson M, Alnaqeeb MA, al-Hassan JM, Khater SH, Gomes SA.

Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Science, Kuwait University.

Rabbits were given collagen and arachidonic acid intravenously. Blood pressure, platelet counts, plasma thromboxane-B2 (TXB2) and plasma 6-keto-prostaglandin F1 alpha, (6-keto-PGF1 alpha) were determined. Both thrombogenic agents, upon infusion of a lethal dose, caused thrombocytopenia, indicative of in vivo platelet aggregation and hypotension. These changes were associated with an increase in plasma levels of TXB2 and 6-keto-PGF1 alpha measured by radioimmunoassay (RIA). Pretreatment of rabbits with an aqueous extract of garlic (500 mgkg) provided protection from thrombocytopenia and hypotension. Thromboxane-B2 synthesis was significantly reduced in animals pretreated with garlic and then injected with a lethal dose of either collagen or arachidonic acid. The amount of TXB2 synthesized in these animals was not sufficient to induce thrombocytopenia or hypotension. All animals pretreated with garlic were well protected against the effects of collagen or arachidonate infusion, and no apparent symptoms were observed in these animals. These observations indicate that garlic may be beneficial in the prevention of thrombosis.

Online source: www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&list_uids=2274570&dopt=Abstract garlic



garlic
Tomato and garlic can modulate azoxymethane-induced colon carcinogenesis in rats.

Sengupta A, Ghosh S, Das S.

Department of Cancer Chemoprevention, Chittaranjan National Cancer Institute 37, Kolkata, India. archanadi1 rediffmail.com

Tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum) and garlic (Allium cepa) are important constituents of the human diet. Compounds like diallyl sulfides, diallyl disulfides and quercetin, which are active components of garlic, have known anti-inflammatory, antimutagenic activities. Similarly, active components in tomato, such as kaempferol and chlorogenic acid, have antimutagenic activities and lycopene is the most active oxygen quencher with potential chemopreventive activities. In view of this, an endeavour was made to evaluate the anticarcinogenic effect, if any, of tomato and garlic consumption individually and in combination on azoxymethane-induced colonic precancerous lesion, the aberrant crypt foci in animal model. Sprague-Dawley rats (4-5 weeks old) were injected with azoxymethane (15 mg/kg b.w.) and orally administered with 2% (w/v) of tomato, garlic and a combination of both. After 12 weeks of first azoxymethane injection, colons were assessed for aberrant crypt foci and compared with the carcinogen control group. Lipid peroxidation level and glutathione-S-transferase (GST) activity were assessed in liver as well as in colon. Furthermore, in situ cell proliferation and apoptosis were estimated using the Brdu incorporation method and TUNEL method respectively. It was observed that aberrant crypt foci were reduced in all treated groups (by 32.11% in garlic, by 76.14% in tomato and by 55.96% in the combination group). Among treated groups, GST activity was found to be induced in both liver and colon, whereas considerable reduction in lipid peroxidation level was observed in liver as well as in colon with respect to the carcinogen control group. Significant reduction in Brdu labelling index and increase in apoptotic index in colon was noted in the treated groups. These results suggest that tomato and garlic suspensions have a protective effect on colon carcinogenesis, which is mediated by modulation of different biological pathways during carcinogenesis.

Online source: www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&list_uids=12771557&dopt=Abstract garlic



garlic
Chemoprotection of garlic extract toward cyclophosphamide toxicity in mice.

Unnikrishnan MC, Soudamini KK, Kuttan R.

Amala Cancer Research Centre, Kerala, India.

The effect of the administration of an extract of garlic (Allium sativum) was studied in mice that were treated with a chronic lethal dose of cyclophosphamide (50 mg/kg body wt, 14 days). The intraperitoneal administration of garlic (50 mg/animal, 14 days) along with cyclophosphamide reduced the toxicity of the latter considerably with an increase in life span of more than 70%. The administration of garlic extract did not improve the lymphopenia produced by cyclophosphamide or liver alkaline phosphatase, but there was a significant reduction in liver glutamic-pyruvic transaminase. Moreover, garlic extract reduced the level of lipid peroxidation induced in the liver by cyclophosphamide administration. Administration of garlic extract did not interfere with the tumor-reducing activity of cyclophosphamide.

Online source: www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&list_uids=2308875&dopt=Abstract garlic



garlic
Effect of ginger & garlic on DNA content of gastric aspirate.

Desai HG, Kalro RH, Choksi AP.

Pai Department of Gastroenterology, BYL Nair Charitable Hospital, Bombay.

DNA content of gastric aspirates was studied before and after intragastric infusions of three doses of ginger (2, 4, 6 g) and four doses of garlic (0.3, 0.75, 1.5, 3 g) on different days in volunteers. Only one dose was administered on any day. The mean changes of DNA-p/min in gastric aspirates after intragastric infusions of 2 and 4 g ginger were -1.37 +/- 2.3 and 6.74 +/- 3.06 respectively, which were not significant statistically. However, 6 g ginger given intragastrically showed a mean significant increase in DNA-p/min of 3.23 +/- 1.02 (P less than 0.05). Intragastric infusion of 0.3 g uncooked garlic showed a non-significant increase in DNA-p/min of 0.307 +/- 0.59. On the other hand, infusion of 0.75, 1.5 and 3 g of uncooked garlic each caused significant increase in DNA-p/min of 5.47 +/- 1.63 (P less than 0.01), 10.42 +/- 3.46 (P less than 0.01) and 29.26 +/- 4.55 (P less than 0.001) respectively. Infusion of 3 g of cooked garlic also showed significant increase in DNA-p/min of 21.43 +/- 4.62 (P less than 0.001). There was no significant difference between the effect of cooked and uncooked (3 g) garlic. Ginger in quantities of 6 g or more and garlic in quantities of 0.75 g or more cause a significant increase in exfoliation of gastric surface epithelial cells in human subjects.

Online source: www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&list_uids=2370094&dopt=Abstract garlic



garlic
Isolation and effects of some garlic components on platelet aggregation and metabolism of arachidonic acid in human blood platelets.

Srivastava KC, Justesen U.

Department of Environmental Medicine, Odense University, Denmark.

Effects of aqueous extract of garlic, of materials extracted in two organic solvents, viz., ether and chloroform in succession, and of some fractions obtained after TLC of the aqueous extract were examined on platelet aggregation induced by several aggregating agents. Their effects were also investigated on the formation of thromboxane and lipoxygenase products from endogenous arachidonic acid in intact platelets. The aqueous extract inhibited aggregation induced by all aggregating agents and so did the materials extracted in two organic solvents. Only two fractions obtained from TLC of the aqueous garlic extract were examined for effects on epinephrine- and arachidonic acid (AA)-induced aggregation; they were found to be antiaggregatory. The material extracted in ether (MEE) inhibited the incorporation of labelled AA into platelets in platelet-rich plasma. Garlic extracts (MEE and material extracted in chloroform, MEC) at higher dosage inhibited the degradation of platelet phospholipids and reduced the formation of thromboxane (TxB2) and lipoxygenase-derived products from labelled platelets. The two organic extracts at low dosage, while not affecting the degradation of platelet phospholipids, inhibited the cyclooxygenase and lipoxygenase enzymes. A concomitant increase in the amount of released AA was observed in the treated platelets. Similar effects in relation to dosage were observed with the aqueous extract of garlic.

Online source: www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&list_uids=2499123&dopt=Abstract garlic