Abstract

BACKGROUND: The effect of diet garlic supplementation on total antioxidant status (TAS), nitric oxide (NO) and routine biochemical and haematological parameters was investigated in blood of rats. A total of 30 male rats were divided equally into two groups. Each of 15 rats of treatment group was fed 600 mg kg(-1) garlic solution in distilled water by gavage and controls only received distilled water. After garlic consumption for 1 month, blood serum total antioxidant, nitrate and some biochemical and haematological tests including serum lipids parameters, blood sugar, complete blood count (CBC), and haemoglobin were measured. RESULTS: The garlic treatment group showed significantly increase in the mean level of TAS from 0.77 +/- 0.10 mol L(-1) to 1.18 +/- 0.11 mol L(-1) (P < 0.01) and nitrate (a NO metabolite) from 0.78 +/- 0.06 mu mol L(-1) to 1.44 +/- 0.27 mu mol L(-1) (P < 0.05) in the blood sera of rats compared with the controls. There were no significant differences between the routine biochemical and haematological parameters. CONCLUSION: Garlic consumption should have antioxidant properties and may not affect the lipids profile and total blood cell counts. (C) 2008 Society of Chemical Industry