BENIFICIAL EFFECT OF ALLIUM SATIVUM AND ALLIUM TUBEROSUM ON EXPERIMENTAL HYPERLIPIDEMIA AND ATHEROSCLEROSIS

Abstract

Garlic has been used as a dietary agent through-out the world. Different cultureused different varieties of garlic depending upon their ecological productivity. In India Alliumsativum species of garlic is very commonly used, while another species of garlic named Alliumtuberosum is used in South-east Asia, China and North-east part of India. Both the species areimportant constituent of customary diet in Indian and Chinese food. The main aim of this study isto compare the potency of these two species for their antihyperlipidemic effect and curativepotential against atherosclerosis. Methods: Forty-three guinea pigs were fed cholesterol (0.5 g perkg. body weight) for an initial period of 4 weeks. Cholesterol was then discontinued and they were divided into three groups. Group-I (n=7) was fed stock diet while group-II (n=18) was given 2 gm.per kg body weight of Allium sativum daily for 4 weeks. Group-III (n=18) was supplemented byAllium tuberosum species of garlic (2 gm/kg body weight) daily for 4 weeks period. Fasting blood samples were collected at onset of study, at 4 weeks duration and finally at the end of study (8weeks period), for estimation of serum cholesterol, serum triglycerides, LDL-C. HDL-C, VLDL-Cand atherogenic index. At 8 weeks duration all the animals were sacrificed for grading of atherosclerotic lesions. Results: In present study both species of garlic (A. sativum, A. tuberosum)showed significant hypolipidemic activity as they reduced serum cholesterol, triglyceride, LDL-Cand atherogenic index in hyperlipidemic guineapigs (p<0.01).