Antihypoxic Activities of Allium sativum Flower in Mice

Background and purpose: Imbalance between low oxygen supply and oxygen demands determines organ hypoxia causing oxidative stress and finally lead to cell death. Compounds with antioxidant activity are able to exhibit antihypoxic property. Allium sativum has distinctive antioxidant activities, but to the best of our knowledge, there is no reports on the protective effect of flower of this plant against hypoxia. In this study, antihypoxic activities of this plant were evaluated. Materials and methods: Protective effects of A. sativum flower methanolic extract against hypoxia-induced lethality in mice were evaluated by three experimental models. Analysis of variance was performed followed by Newman-Keuls multiple comparison test. Results: Considerable protective activities were established in all models. Antihypoxic activity was pronounced in asphyctic model. A. sativum flower methanolic extract showed the same activity of the positive control; phenytoin, at 125 mg/kg (P>0.05). At 250 mg/kg it was significantly higher than phenytoin (P<0.001). Compared to control group, in haemic model, the extract significantly prolonged survival time in a dose dependent manner. At 125 mg/kg, the extract was capable of keeping the mice alive for 31.20±5.68 min (P<0.001). At 62.5 mg/kg, it prolonged survival time (P<0.05). In circulatory model, the extract at 125 mg/kg significantly prolonged survival time (P<0.05) but was not found to be effective at 62.5 mg/kg (P>0.05). Conclusion: Methanolic extract of A. sativum flower demonstrated strong protective effects against hypoxia in all three models.