Protective Role of Diallyl Disulphide Compound (From Garlic Extract) Against Mercuric Chloride - Induced Genotoxicity and Cytotoxicity in Albino Rats

Mercury compounds are widely used in several industries. such compounds canfind their way to the environment causing its pollution. mercury is considered as apowerful carcinogenic agent. on the other side, the garlic extract is characterizedby having compounds of specific anticarcinogenic action. therefore, the presentstudy was conducted to investigate both the genotoxicity and cytotoxicity ofmercuric chloride and to evaluate the therapeutic and/or prophylactic role ofdiallyl disulphide (dads) on mercuric chloride-intoxicated rats. experimentalanimals were divided into three main groups, keeping the 1st group as a healthycontrol. the 2nd group was a dads post-treated one; receiving hgcl2 orallythree times/week at a dose of 20 mg/kg bw for three weeks, then dads threetimes/week at an oral dose of 80 mg/kg bw for three weeks. the 3rd group wasa pre-treated one, which received dads then hgcl2 at the same doses and thesame periods mentioned in the 2nd group. the results showed that mercuricchloride has a mutagenic activity reflected in its highly significant effects on cellcyclekinetics and frequency of chromosomal aberrations. also, ast and altenzyme activities were highly significantly increased whereas alp and acheactivities were highly significantly decreased in the serum of hgcl2-intoxicatedrats. moreover, while glucose and total cholesterol were increased after hgcl2intoxication, total protein was decreased. these effects were much more inhibitedin rats firstly treated with dads then hgcl2 than in those treated with hgcl2 thendads. the results reflected that dads has a potential prophylactic activityagainst hgcl2 toxicity. this could be probably related to its strong antioxidantnature and hg-binding activity.