Changes in some Serum Enzymes due to Oral Administration of Allium Cepa and Allium Sativum to normal and Iodine treated Wistar Albino Rats

Abstract

Biochemical effects following ingestion of Allium cepa (onion) and Allium sativum (garlic) during iodine fortification are yet to be ascertained. This study determined the effect of the oral administration of these Alliums extracts on the activity of some serum enzymes specifically alanine aminotransferase, ALT, aspartate aminotransferase, AST, alkaline phosphatase, ALP, of normal and iodine treated Wistar albino rats. Oral administration of the aqueous extracts of garlic and onion at high dose (1.5 ml containing 1.70 g of the sample) and low dose (1 ml containing 1.14 g of the sample), was done to eight groups of wistar albino rats. Four of these were iodine treated using potassium iodide solution (0.8 mg/kg body weight) while the other groups were normal. Two control groups one for the normal rats, the other for the iodine treated rats which were not administered with the spices. Oral administration of onion and garlic led to a statistically significant (P < 0.05) decrease in the serum ALT activity of the experimental animals when compared with the control. There was no statistically significant change (P < 0.05) in the activity of AST due to either the administration of the extracts on both normal or iodine treated rats. There was a significant (P < 0.05) decrease in ALP activity in both normal and iodine treated rats when compared with the control due to oral administration of onion and garlic extract. The results of this study show that oral administration of Allium cepa and Allium sativum extract may not be toxic to normal or iodine treated rats at the doses investigated.