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 30male ratswere divided equally into twogroups. Each of 15 rats of treatment groupwas fed 600 mg kg-1 garlic solution in distilledwater by gavage and controls only received distilled water. After garlic consumption for 1month, 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 μmol L-1 to 1.44 ± 0.27 μmol 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 andmay not affect the lipids profile and total blood cell counts. ©2009 Society of Chemical Industry.