Protective effects of garlic ( Allium sativum) extract upon lindane-induced oxidative stress and related damages in testes and brain of male rats

Abstract

The purpose of this study, carried out on male Wistar rats, was to evaluate the beneficial effects of garlic ( Allium sativum) extract injections upon lindane-induced damages in testes, brain and thyroid function. Under our experimental conditions, lindane poisoning (in drinking water for 30 days, supplying about 50 mg/kg body weight per day) resulted in a decreased weight of testes, epididymides, prostate gland and seminal vesicles (−52%, −42%, −50% and −5%, respectively), a decrease of spermatozoa count and motility (−56%, −37%, respectively), an increased level of free thyroxin (+84%) and decreased levels of TSH and FSH in serum (−74%, −77%, respectively). In addition, lindane treatment triggered an oxidative stress in testes and brain as revealed by an increased level of lipids peroxidation (TBARS) (+96%,+92%), an increase of superoxide-dismutase activity in testes (+69%) and a decrease of glutathione-peroxidase and catalase activities in testes and brain (−52%, −34% and −49%, −45%, respectively). These lindane-induced changes were almost reversed to normal in animals injected with a garlic extract (an amount corresponding to 300 mg fresh garlic/kg/day), what confirms a beneficial effect of this vegetal source of anti-oxidants.