Effect of Garlic Extract (Allium sativum) on Lipid Profile of Wister Rats

Abstract

Lipid profile in Wister rats was investigated after administration of different concentration of aqueous extract of Allium sativum. The animals were divided into five (5) groups of five rats in each group, and were given different concentrations of the extract for three weeks. Thereafter, plasma lipid profiles were assayed. The result of comparing the mean total cholesterol (T. CHOL), triglyceride (TG), Low density lipoprotein (LDL) and control levels with those of the test groups A, B, C and D showed great decrease except in group D where there was an increase in mean LDL. The decrease in mean T.CHOL in group A and C were significant while decrease in T.CHOL in group B and D were not significant when compared with T.CHOL of Control samples at p< 0.05. The decrease in TG was significant in all test groups when compared with Control TG samples at p< 0.05, while the decrease in LDL in group D was not significant when compared with the LDL control samples at p< 0.05. The mean HDL of the test group showed a great increase when compared with the mean Control and the increase observed was significant when compared with the Control HDL at p< 0.05. The findings reveal that garlic bulb extract causes a significant reduction in some lipid profile parameters (p< 0.05) especially TG and an increase in HDL. These findings therefore suggest that the administration of Allium sativum extract could prevent plasma lipid related disease especially those associated with cardiovascular disease and atherosclerosis.