Can a three-week administration of methanol extract of wild garlic modulate systemic redox state in hypertensive rats?

Abstract

Wild garlic (Allium ursinum) is a widespread perennial herbaceous plant that has wide therapeutic applications and it is used as well as food. Natural preparations based on wild garlic have been used for gastrointestinal tract disorders, as antioxidants, antihypertensive, hypolipidemic agents, etc. Nevertheless, the data related to the effects of chronic wild garlic extract consumption on systemic redox state in hypertensive animals is yet to be understood. Therefore, the main goal of this study was to examine the effects of a three-week application of ethanolic extract from wild garlic on oxidative stress markers in spontaneously hypertensive rats. This was an experimental study conducted in 20 spontaneously hypertensive Wistar kyoto rats divided into two groups: CTRL group - control untreated rats and wild garlic group - rats treated for three weeks with wild garlic ethanol extract once daily per os (100 mg/kg). After the accomplishment of the treatment protocol, animals were sacrificed, and blood samples were taken for determination of the levels of pro-oxidants and the activity of antioxidant enzymes. Our results indicate that there was a significant reduction in almost all of the measured pro-oxidants and an increase in antioxidant enzyme activity in rats treated with wild garlic extract compared to untreated rats. Ethanol extract from wild garlic showed promising antioxidant potential in hypertensive conditions, however, future studies are necessary in order to reveal the full therapeutic potential of this plant species in various cardiovascular disorders.