Introduction: Lately the artificial ripening and increase the shelf life of fruits and vegetables by chemicals as organophosphorus plant growth regulator ethephon. Medicinal plants are used due to their natural origin, their cost-effectiveness, and side effects. Garlic oil extract normally exists in nature containing many variable antioxidant effects.
Aim of the Work: Our study is directed to reveal the possible ameliorating properties of garlic oil extract in dealing with the toxic properties of ethephon on liver of adult albino rat.
Material and Method: 80 male of albino rats (200-250 gm) were be used and divided into four groups each was 20 rat; the first group was a control group and received normal distilled water orally for two weeks ; second group was received 100 mg garlic oil extract/kg body weight/day orally for 2 months, third group was received ethephon150 mg//kg b.wt /day orally for 2 months and fourth group was received ethephon150 mg/kg body weight/day for 2 months plus 100 mg garlic oil extract/kg b.wt. Blood and liver were be experimented and ready for laboratory hematological, chemical, histopathological and microscopic examinations respectively.
Results: The results revealed that red blood cell count and hemoglobin level values were decreased by ethephon intake, but leucocytosis, neutrophilia, monocytosis and lymphocytopenia were detected. Significant elevations were recorded in serum transaminases and total bilirubin levels, and significantly decreased the effect of antioxidant enzymes CAT, GSH and SOD. In contrast, MDA significantly increased when compared with the control group. Histopathological examination of the liver revealed that there were pyknosis of hepatocytes nuclei, fibrosis , cytoplasmic vacuolation and dilatation of central vein. There were also several electrons microscopic deteriorations occurred. Garlic oil extract somewhat alleviated the injury occurred in the liver.
Conclusion: Our results revealed the preventive effect of garlic oil extract in inhibition ethephon - induced major damage in the hepatocytes of albino rats.