Abstract

Garlic is a widely used medicinal plant exhibiting beneficial health effects such as antidiabetic, antioxidant or hypolipidemic. However several controversies persist about the beneficial or toxic effects of garlic according to its mode of administration in rat. We analyzed the ability of high dosage garlic administered per orally (p.o.) or through intraperitoneal (i.p.) route to act on liver and spleen antioxidant status in rats. In these tissue p.o. garlic is antioxidant as it decreased malondialdehyde (MDA) and H₂O₂ and increased catalase (CAT), peroxidase (POD) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activities. Intraperitoneal garlic is pro-oxidant as revealed by high malondialdehyde and H₂O₂ levels, a decrease in free iron deposition and in catalase, peroxidase and superoxide dismutase activities. In conclusion in the liver and the spleen high garlic dosage is more safe when orally administered. These effects are free iron mediated and organ specific.

Key words: Garlic, liver, spleen, antioxidant status, administration way, lipoperoxidation, free iron, hydrogen peroxide.