Effect of garlic (Allium sativum) extract on reduction of total cholesterol and HDL cholesterol ratio in hypercholesterolemic rats

Abstract

Priskila M, Ariningrum D, Suparyanti ES. 2008. Effect of garlic (Allium sativum Linn.) extract on reduction of total cholesterol and HDL cholesterol ratio in hypercholesterolemic rats (Rattus norvegicus). Biofarmasi 6: 45-51. Garlic has been widely recognized as herbal medicine for prevention and treatment of cardiovascular disease, atherosclerosis, and hyperlipidemia. The main bioactive compound, allicin, can influence cholesterol metabolism, reduce total cholesterol and increase HDL cholesterol. The purpose of this research was to find out the effect of garlic extract on the reduction of total cholesterol and HDL cholesterol ratio in hypercholesterolemic rats. This research was an experimental research with pre and post-test control group design. The research used male Wistar rats (Rattus norvegicus) with ±3 mounts old and ±200 grams of body weight. The rats were divided into two groups, group I and II; each group consisted of 15 rats. Before the treatment, all rats were induced by a high-cholesterol diet for two weeks, to get a hypercholesterolemic condition. Group I, as a control group, were induced by a high-cholesterol diet, while group II, treatment group, were also induced by a high-cholesterol diet orally by 0.432 grams garlic extract /200 grams body weight/day. The treatment occurred for 25 days. The data were taken before the treatment and after the last treatment, by taking the blood from orbital sine of rats which been fasted for 12 hours, and the level of serum cholesterol total and the level of serum HDL cholesterol were checked from both groups, then the results were analyzed with t-test. Based on the results, it could be concluded that the oral induction of 0.432 grams garlic extract /200 grams body weight/day for 25 days on rats, could not reduce total cholesterol, therefore the serum total cholesterol and HDL cholesterol ratio was not significant (p>0.05). Meanwhile, the decrease of total cholesterol in treatment group and the decrease of HDL cholesterol in both groups were significant (p<0.05).