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Inhibition of chemically induced liver carcinogenesis in Wistar rats by garlic ( Allium sativum )
Author(s) -
Samaranayake M. D. P.,
Wickramasinghe S. M. D. N.,
Angunawela P.,
Jayasekera S.,
Iwai S.,
Fukushima S.
Publication year - 2000
Publication title -
phytotherapy research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.019
H-Index - 129
eISSN - 1099-1573
pISSN - 0951-418X
DOI - 10.1002/1099-1573(200011)14:7<564::aid-ptr664>3.0.co;2-z
Subject(s) - allium sativum , glutathione , carcinogen , carcinogenesis , biology , histopathology , anticarcinogen , liliaceae , staining , chemistry , biochemistry , endocrinology , pharmacology , pathology , enzyme , medicine , botany , gene
The effects of garlic on diethylnitrosoamine (DEN)‐induced hepatocarcinogenesis were examined in male Wistar rats using the medium term bioassay system of Ito based on the two‐step model of hepatocarcinogenesis. Carcinogenic potential was scored by comparing the number and area/cm 2 of induced glutathione S‐transferase placental form (GST‐P) positive foci in the liver with those of the corresponding group (control) of rats given diethylnitrosoamine alone. Treatment with garlic (therapeutic dose 20 mg/kg body wt/day) reduced significantly the number (50% reduction, p < 0.003) and area (48% reduction, p < 0.0007) of GST‐P positive foci compared with the control group of animals receiving distilled water. Histopathological examination of rat livers using H & E staining indicated that there was no significant difference between the control group and the garlic treated group in the two pathological parameters namely granularity and vacuolation of the cytoplasm. Our results provide strong supportive evidence for the anticarcinogenic activity of garlic. Copyright © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.