Protective effect of garlic on methyl ethyl ketone-induced biochemical changes in male rabbits.

Document Type : Original Article

Author

Department of Biology Faculty of Applied Sciences, Umm Al Qura University, Makkah, Saudi Arabia

Abstract

The present study evaluated the effect of inhalation of methyl ethyl ketone (MEK) on biochemical parameters of rabbits and the possible protective role of garlic aqueous extract. Animals were divided into 4 groups. Group 1 served as controls, group2 given garlic aqueous extract (0.2mg/ml, for a week), group 3 were inhaled (MEK) (500 ppm for 3 minutes daily for 4 weeks), group 4 inhaled MEK for 4 weeks and given garlic for another week. The results showed that exposing animals to MEK induced significant decrease in RBCs count, hemoglobin, hematocrit percentage and blood platelets. On the other hand, the WBCs count was increased. Triglycerides, cholesterol and transaminases (ALT and AST) were increased in the sera of treated rabbits. Rabbits inhaled MEK for two weeks and given garlic aqueous extract for another week showed an improvement of the hematological and biochemical parameters. It is concluded from the present results that garlic aqueous extract modulated toxicity of MEK and this may be attributed to the antioxidant activity of garlic constituents

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