Garlic essential oil confers shielding against nephrotoxicity elicited by lead nitrate in Swiss albino mice

Abstract

Lead is an immensely poisonous metal that can infiltrate the human body through various natural processes and human activities, therefore it possesses a significant risk to human health. Garlic (Allium sativum), a widely recognized medicinal plant, is employed to diminish a diverse array of health issues. While investigating the potential curative properties of the garlic essential oil (GEO) derived from fresh garlic bulbs, researchers explored its impact on the mice renal tissue subjected to lead nitrate. In the present research work, a sum of 36 healthy male Swiss albino mice were randomized into one control group (I) and five treatment groups: lead nitrate (II a), lead nitrate + low dose of GEO (II b), lead nitrate + high dose of GEO (II c), lead nitrate + silymarin (II d) and lead nitrate + vehicle olive oil (II e). Lead nitrate exposure resulted in elevated levels of alanine transferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), lipid peroxidation (LPO) and decreased levels of antioxidant enzymes, thus contributing to the oxidative stress and adversely affected the normal structure of renal tissues. Conversely, treatment with garlic essential oil (GEO) resulted in upsurge in these antioxidant levels and depletion in ALT, AST, and LPO levels. The findings support the notion that a higher dosage of garlic essential oil is more effective in mitigating lead nitrate-induced nephrotoxicity than a lower dosage. Consequently, garlic essential oil holds promise as a novel therapeutic agent for alleviating nephrotoxicity induced by lead nitrate exposure.