Abstract

The effect of aqueous fresh garlic (Allium sativum) cloves extracts on blood glucose level and on the morphology of liver and pancreas of Wistar rats was determined. Four groups of 5 each of preweighed male and female (controls) as well as 5 each of male and female experimental Wistar albino rats were administered with 500 mg/kg body weight of extracts for 12 weeks and blood glucose analysis was done after a 10 h fast before and at the 3^rd, 6^th, 9^th and 12^thweek of garlic administration and the liver and pancreas were also taken for histological analysis. Results showed that at the end of the 3^rd and 6^th week of garlic administration, there was a slight decrease in blood glucose levels in both the male and female rats, and at the end of the 9^th and 12^th week, there was a very significant decrease in the blood glucose levels of both the male and female garlic-fed rats. There were morphological changes in the liver and pancreas of the garlic-fed rats. The results suggest that chronic garlic feeding decreases blood glucose level.

Key words: Garlic, blood glucose level, liver, pancreas.