Effects of Garlic on weight and lipid profile in male albino rats

Background: atherosclerosis is one of the main risk factors for coronary artery disease which leads to myocardial infarction. lipids are main risk factors to induce atherosclerosis. certain foods like fruits,vegetables and herbal remedies in association with exercise may protect cardiovascular diseases. aim: to observe the effect of garlic as a lipid lowering agent and evaluate the effectiveness of this agent. place of study: department of biochemistry,basic medical sciences institute karachi. methods: a total of 36 healthy adult albino rats were included. their average daily dietary intake was tabulated. two ml of blood was collected from each animal after a time period of 0,45 and 90 days. animals were numbered,weighed and were kept in separate cages. their diet had been given according to the diet plan. the results were compiled by using spss version 10. results: the blood samples were collected on day before the study starts referred as 0 samples were served as baseline,moreover 2nd samples on the 45th day and last on the 90th day. two ml of blood sample was collected from the tail of each albino rats by giving small incision. after all necessary antiseptic measures,blood was allowed to clot at 37c and serum was separated after centrifuging at 3000 rpm for 10 minutes. following lipid parameters; total cholesterol,ldl-c,triglycerides and hdl-c had been analyzed by auto analyzer. weight was also noted up to 90 days. conclusion: in diet group: garlic used for 0,45 and 90 days we observed significant decrease in tg,tc,ldl-c,increase in hdl-c concluded that garlic protects from cardiovascular diseases. the results of weight showed significant decrease in weight in the light of present study,it is recommended that garlic can be added in the diet of hyperlipidemic and obese patients and also in certain diseases in which lipid level is increased,so to decrease the mortality as lipids are silent killers.