Aged garlic extract enhances paraoxonase 1 activity and suppress oxidative stress in CCl sub( 4) super( -) intoxicated rats/Extrato envelhecido de alho incrementa a atividade de paraoxonase 1 e suprime o estresse oxidativo em ratos intoxicados com CCl sub( 4) super( -)

The current study was undertaken to evaluate the hepatoprotective potential of aged garlic extract (AGE) against hepatotoxicity induced by CCl4 in adult male rats. CCl4 intoxication (1ml/ kg b.w., twice a week, i.p. for 4 weeks) significantly increased oxidative stress as indicated by increased hepatic MDA formation, decreased both serum total and reduced glutathione contents, and inhibition of hepatic glutathione reductase and serum paraoxonase 1(POX1) activities. In addition, treatment with CCl4 produced a significant increase in the activities of serum ALT, AST and albumin level with a significant decrease in total protein level. Moreover, treatment with CCl4 resulted in significant increase in the levels of total cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol, triglycerides as well as creatine kinase isoenzyme and lactate dehydrogenase activities, and a significant decrease in HDL-cholesterol compared to control group. Oral treatment with AGE at doses of 100 and 200 mg/ kg/day in combination with CCl4 significantly ameliorated the severity of CCl4- induced changes in the above mentioned parameters in a dose- dependent manner. In conclusion, the present study indicated that AGE improves POX1 activity and attenuates liver and cardiac dysfunction induced by CCl4. The protective effects of AGE against CCl4 toxicity may be attributed to its antioxidant and free radical scavenging activities due to its higher contents of organosulphur compounds.