preventive effect of garlic (allium sativum l.) on serum biochemical factors and histopathology of pancreas and liver in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats

antidiabetic action of garlic is established in animal studies. since all of the pervious studies have focused on the therapeutic role of garlic, this study investigated the preventive effect of garlic juice on biochemical factors and histological features in streptozotocin (stz)-induced diabetic rats. forty male rats were divided into five groups (n = 8): 1-normal group (n), 2-normal+garlic group (n+g) received garlic juice (1 ml/100g bw) for 6 weeks, 3-diabetic group (d) was injected with stz (60 mg/kg, ip), 4-diabetic+garlicbefore group (d+gb) received garlic juice for 3 weeks before stz injection and continued for another 3 weeks, 5-diabetic+garlic-after group (d+ga), three days after stz injection, they received garlic juice for 3 weeks. serum biochemical factors were measured by the enzymatic methods and h&e; stained sections of pancreas and liver were prepared for light microscopy. in diabetic rats, elevated levels of glucose, cholesterol and triglycerides, the increment of the activities of alt and ast, increased food and water consumption were observed. the abnormal increases were significantly (p < 0.05) decreased in d+gb groups compared to d group. in d group, scattered degeneration of the hepatocytes with lymphocytic infiltration in the portal areas, decrease of pancreatic islets numbers and diameter, atrophy of pancreatic islets were observed. these abnormal histological signs were dramatically ameliorated in d+gb group compared to d group. in d+ga group compared to d+gb group slighter effects of garlic juice on histopathological and biochemical changes were seen. these results indicate that garlic juice may help in the prevention of the complications of diabetes.