Dietary protection by garlic extract against lead induced oxidative stress and genetic birth defects

Abstract

Oladimeji S. Tugbobo, Omotade I. Oloyede, Olusola B. Adewale

The antioxidant potentials of Allium sativum extract was studied in bone marrow cells of albino rats using micronucleus assay with the use of 100 mg/ml crude garlic extract as dietary supplement via oral gavage. The rats were divided into three groups: A, distilled water; B, lead acetate; C, garlic extract + lead acetate. After the short-term exposure, rats were sacrificed by cervical dislocation and chromosomal preparations were made from bone marrow according to colchicines-hypotonic-fixation-air-drying-Giemsa schedule. The cytogenic end points observed were chromosomal aberrations and tissue damage. The chromosomal aberration induced by lead was reduced significantly in animals fed with the extract in group C while lead acetate administered to animals in group B was highly mutagenic. Besides, the antioxidant properties of garlic was further demonstrated in the in vitro experiment where it provided significant protection to thiobarbituric reactive substances inhibition, and reduced and oxidized glutathione contents in liver tissues. This suggests their ability to act as free-radical scavengers and in protecting the cell against oxidative stress for normal cellular functions. The results further harp on the involvement of reactive oxygen species in lead toxicity and also revealed the beneficial role of garlic therapeutic efficacy which indicates the antimutagenic and antioxidant potentials of garlic against oxidative stress and mutation.