Garlic (Allium sativum) juice protects from semen oxidative stress in male rats exposed to chromium chloride

Semen oxidation is one of the major testimonies of infertility. The aim of present study was to examine the effects of fresh garlic juice on semen malondialdehyde (MDA), superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GPx) and total antioxidant status (TAS) compared with chromium chloride (CrCl3) in male rats. A hundred and sixty-two male rats were allocated into 9 treatment groups. Group 1 served as control. In group 2, rats gavage 60 mg/kg garlic juice. In group 3, rats were offered 120 mg/kg garlic juice. Group 4 drenched 4 mg/kg CrCl3. In group 5, 8 mg/kg CrCl3 was offered to rats. Group 6 was treated with 60 mg/kg garlic juice + 4 mg/kg CrCl3. Group 7 gavage 60 mg/kg garlic juice + 8 mg/kg CrCl3. Group 8 consumed 120 mg/kg garlic juice + 4 mg/kg CrCl3. In group 9 rats received 8 mg/kg CrCl3 + 120 mg/kg garlic juice. After 4 weeks animals were killed and semen samples used to determine MDA, SOD, GPx and TAS activity. According to the results, garlic juice (120 mg/kg) significantly declined semen MDA activity compared to control group (P < 0.05). Also, garlic juice (120 mg/kg) significantly attenuated effects of CrCl3 on TAS compared to control group (P < 0.05). These results suggest that garlic juice presumably protects semen oxidation in rat testes.