Biochemical Therapeutic Benefits of Garlic on Atherosclerosis Induced by Soybean in Rats

Cholesterol increasing concentration (Hypercholesterolemia) is a lipoprotein metabolic disorder characterized by high serum concentration of low density lipoprotein (LDL-C) and blood serum cholesterol [1]. Atherosclerosis can be prevented by decreasing risk factors through: healthy eating, exercise, avoidance of tobacco smoke and limiting alcohol intake. Hypercholesterolemia poses a major problem to many societies as well as health proReceived: October 30, 2017; Accepted: December 05, 2017; Published: December 11, 2017 Abstract


Introduction
Cholesterol increasing concentration (Hypercholesterolemia) is a lipoprotein metabolic disorder characterized by high serum concentration of low density lipoprotein (LDL-C) and blood serum cholesterol [1]. Atherosclerosis can be prevented by decreasing risk factors through: healthy eating, exercise, avoidance of tobacco smoke and limiting alcohol intake. Hypercholesterolemia poses a major problem to many societies as well as health pro-

Biochemical Therapeutic Benefits of Garlic on
Atherosclerosis Induced by Soybean in Rats fessionals because of relative higher mortality from Ischemic Heart Disease (IHD). Elevation of the total cholesterol (TC) and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) are well established risk factors of atherogenesis [2]. The earliest lesion of atherosclerosis is the simple fatty streak, which eventually changes to fibrous plaques resulting in arterial occlusion, thereby producing overt clinical manifestations [3]. A number of clinical investigations, of oral antilipidaemic agents from plants extractions used in traditional medicine, have been investigated and many of the plants were DOI found with high activity [4]. Garlic (Allium sativum Linn) has been used by man in different cultures for hundreds of years as foodstuffs, condiments, as flavourings and in folk medicine. The World Health Organization (WHO) has also recommended the evaluation of the plants' effectiveness in conditions where we lack safe and modern drugs [5]. This has leaded to an increasing demand of research on natural antilipidemic plants which produces minimal or no side effects to cardiovascular disease. Garlic plant (Allium sativum L.) is a common spicy flavouring agent used since ancient times. Some protective effects of garlic have been well established by epidemiological studies and animal experiments in the past decade. Investigation of the commercially available garlic preparations in the form of garlic oil, garlic powder, and pills which are widely used for certain therapeutic purposes, including lowering blood pressure and improving lipid profile leading to improvement of cardiovascular and other disease were performed by Elkayam, Mirelman and Peleg [6]. Garlic has been largely attributed to the reduction of risk factors for cardiovascular diseases and cancer [7], activaton of immune function [8], protection of liver [9] and has antioxidant effect [10]. At least, garlic extract contains 33 sulfur compounds, several enzymes, 17 amino acids, and minerals such as selenium. Also, garlic plant has numerous biological activities that are attributed to its rich content of different volatile organosulfur compound (OSC) and other phytochemicals that work in synergically by combination of mechanisms for substance acting on various molecular targets [11][12][13][14].
Garlic or extracts has hundreds of chemical compounds and they were estimated biochemically. Some basic sulphur-containing bioactive constituents in whole, intact garlic are the ȣ-glutamyl S-alk(en)yl-L-cysteines and S-lk(en)yl-L-cysteine sulphoxides, including alliin substance. The ȣ-glutamyl peptides are biosynthetic intermediates for corresponding cysteine sulphoxides compound [15,16]. Whole intact garlic typically contains ~1% alliin compound, together with (+)S -methyl-L-cysteine sulphoxide (methiin) substance and (+)S -(trans-1-propenyl)-L-cysteine sulphoxide compound. S-(2-carboxypropyl) glutathione, ȣ-glutamyl S -allyl-Lcysteine, ȣ-glutamyl S -(trans-1-pro-pynyl)-L-cysteine and ȣ -glutamyl S -allyl mercapto-L-cysteine are also reported to be present in garlic cloves parts [16,17]. The major health benefits of garlic likely arise from a wide variety of components, possibly working synergistically. Moreover, it is proposed that the prediction of potential health benefit(s) from garlic plant is largely dependent on the efficiency and safety of the garlic preparations, which are also containing on the processing methods employed. The complex chemistry structures of garlic extract makes it plausible that variations in processing can yield quite different preparations. Highly unstable thiosulphinates compounds, such as allicin, dis-appear during processing method and are quickly transformed into a variety of organo-sulphur components. In spite of, there are many garlic supplements commercially available now, they fall into one of four categories, which are includes 1-dehydrated garlic powder, 2-garlic oil, 3-garlic oil macerate and 4-aged garlic extract (AGE). Garlic has been appraised as a remedy for the cure and prevention of a number of diseases such as cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases, as well as other metabolic diseases, high lipid profile (hyperlipidaemia) and diabetes mellitus [18].
The purpose of the present study is firstly to evaluate the influence of oral administration of garlic juice on Hypercholesterolemia induced by a high dietary soybean oil and cholesterol in rats.

Method of garlic juice preparation
From the local market in New Damietta, Egypt, bulbs of fresh garlic (Allium sativum Linn) were purchased., peeled, washed, and chopped into small pieces. One hundred gram of chopped garlic were added and crushed in a mixing machine with 250 ml of distilled water. Slurry produced was squeezed and filtered through a fine cloth and the filtrate was quickly frozen at -10°C until used [19].

Rats and treatments
From the animal house at the faculty of Medicine (Damietta), University of Al-Azhar, Egypt, twenty four male weanling rats weighing approximately (60-80 g) were obtained. Rats were housed in three groups (each group was 8 rats) in a controlled environment with 12 hour light and 12 hour dark cycles. They were allowed free access to different dietary formulations ( Table 1) and water ad libitum for 8 weeks. The first group of animals was fed with the control diet (C), the second group of animals was fed with a hypercholesterolemic diet (HPC) [20] and finally, the third group of rats was fed with a hypercholesterolemic diet (HPC) with simultaneous administration of 1 ml of garlic juice daily oral by gavage/100 g body weight (equivalent to 4/10 g/100 g BW) [21]. Every week, the rats were weighed throughout the period of the experiment. Proximate analysis of both the control and hypercholesterolemic diets of the rats were determined ( Table 2) using the methods described by AOAC [22] for crude protein, crude fat, crude fibre, and ash while carbohydrate was determined by subtracting the sum of the other nutrient parameters from 100.

Assay kits and reagents
The assay kits for cholesterol, HDL-C, LDL-C, triglycerides, were obtained from Randox Laboratories Ltd., Ardmore, Co. Antrim, UK. All remainder reagents used were of analytical grade. The  Table 1 Control diet composition, hypercholesterolemic diet composition and hypercholesterolemic diet composition + 1 ml Garlic juice fed to the male rats. animals were fasted overnight at the end of the experiment (after eight weeks), sacrificed under ether anaesthesia and blood collected from the jugular vein for analysis. Centrifugation of the blood samples were performed at 1200 × g for 5 min and the serum was collected in Eppendorf tubes for analysis. The heart, liver and kidney of each animal was removed, weighed and stored at -80°C; carefully dissection of abdominal fat and weighed was also made. The relative organ to body weight was calculated. The concentration of total cholesterol (TC), HDL-C and triglycerides were determined in the serum of the rats by adopting the protocol outlined in the manufacturer's assay kit from Randox Laboratories Ltd, Ardmore, Co. Antrim, UK. The concentration of LDL-C was calculated using the Friedewald formula, LDL-C=TC-(HDL-C+TG/5).

Statistical analysis
Data experiment of all result were expressed as mean ± Standerd Deviation (S.D) and were statistically analysed using one way analysis of variance (ANOVA). The data of the means were separated by the Duncan multiple test using SAS [23]. All values of results data were considered significant at (p˂0.05) and very significant at (p˂0.01).

Results
After eight weeks of a hypercholesterolemic diet feeding, there were a significant difference in the weight loss pattern of the rats fed with hypercholesterolemic (HPC) diet compared to those fed with the control diet. While, significant increase in weight was achieved in garlic-treated group ( Table 3). Concentration of the serum lipid of the cholesterol fed rats increased many folds to that of the initial concentration except in the normal control group ( Table 4). The serum cholesterol profile increased maximally to almost 5.4 times the initial concentration and observed markedly higher level of lipid profiles concentration. Elevation of the serum triglycerides concentration was relatively lower as compared to serum low-density lipoprotein (LDL) and cholesterol level. The mean final serum high-density lipoprotein (HDL) con-   centration were less than the mean initial ones in all groups of rats. Levels of the mean final serum cholesterol concentration in the a hypercholesterolemic control group was 5.4 times more than that in the normal control ones. The mean of the final serum cholesterol concentration as percentage of the initial ones in the normal control rats was 120.02 ± 17.08 mg/dl and that of the hypercholesterolemic control ones was 560.73 ± 85.60 mg/ dl. Statistically, very significantly (p˂0.01) higher difference was found when the two groups of rats were compared for the final serum cholesterol concentration expressed as a percentage of the corresponding initial concentration.

Discussion
The effect of a hypercholesterolemic diet when compared to the outcome of the basal laboratory diet feeding could be assessed by comparing the findings in the a hypercholesterolemic control rats with those in the normal control ones. Highly significant difference between the two groups of animals could be detected statistically in all biochemical parameters measured during the experiment. Statistically, the mean final serum cholesterol concentration as well as the mean of the final levels expressed as percentages of the corresponding initial concentrations in the hypercholesterolemic control rats increased by about 5.4 times than that in the normal control ones. Matos et al. [20] and Harnafi et al. [24] confirms the same results in rats. Ahmed et al. [2] reported almost 8 times higher level of serum cholesterol concentration in the hypercholesterolemic control group than that in the normal control ones by feeding 6% coconut oil +1% cholesterol to male albino rabbits for 10 weeks. In the garlic treated rats, the mean final cholesterol concentration was decreased by 60% than that in the hypercholesterolemic controls ones. Hartvigsen et al. Mohammadi and Oshaghi in the cholesterol [2] fed rats treated with garlic for eight weeks have reported similar decrement [25,26]. Reduction by 10% of serum cholesterol concentration after 3 hours in a healthy individual by simultaneous feeding of 50 gm garlic juice with 100 butter and 4 pieces of bread have been spotted by Bordia et al. [27]. Reduction of serum cholesterol concentration has also been communicated by Haque [28] by intragastric administration of garlic in cholesterol fed rats for 10 weeks. Zahid et al. announce that garlic extract is a vasorelaxant and may decrease the atherogenic potentials of cholesterol concentration in rats [29]. Aged garlic extract (AGE) has been acquaint to prevent lipid oxidation and oxidative modification of low density lipoprotein (LDL), just like that decreasing the amount of oxidized low density lipoprotein (LDL) in circulation and the subsequent build-up of cholesterol in macrophages, smooth muscles and blood vessel walls, leading to the suppression of atherogenic fatty streaks [30]. Both human and animal studies, the water and lipid soluble ingredient in garlic demoralize cholesterol synthesis [31]. Regarding to the cholesterol-lowering property of garlic, it has been suggested that some components of garlic may act as inhibitors for some enzymes such as hydroxy methyl glutaryl-CoA reductase, which collaborate in cholesterol biosynthesis. Consistent with this idea, it has been shown that in vivo treatment of garlic extract diminishes the lipid peroxidation products [19,32]. Final serum triglycerides concentration and the mean of the final levels expressed as percentages of the conformable foremost concentrations were more than 2.4 times and about 64% respectively, higher in the atherosclerotic control rats than that in the normal control ones. Similar higher concentrations have also been denounced by Getz and Reardon [33]. While, the mean final serum triglycerides concentration in the garlic treated rats was minimized by 45% than that in the atherosclerotic control rats. Jang and Wang also confirmed similar results [34]. More than 24% depression has been manifested by Zacharias et al. in sucrose fed hypercholesterolemic rabbits treated with 10 ml/kg of aqueous extract of garlic for eight weeks [35]. Cicletane, [2] allicin, ajone and other sulphur-containing compounds in garlic may be responsible for the preservation of endothelial cell perfection via the prohibition of lipid peroxidative prejudice and depression in serum cholesterol and other oxidizable lipids [32]. Levels of the mean final serum low density lipoprotein (LDL) concentration in the atherosclerotic control rats increased by roughly 6 times than that in the normal controls ones. Ebrahimi et al. deliberated on the male rats found higher low-density lipoprotein (LDL) concentration (LDL) [36]. Ratios of the mean final serum low density lipoprotein (LDL) in the garlic treated rats was roughly 58% lower than that in the atherosclerotic control ones. Ebrahimi et al. have spotted about 50% depression of serum low density lipoprotein (LDL) concentration in a similar study. About 40% drooping in the low density lipoprotein (LDL) fed rats treated with aqueous extract of garlic for ten weeks was found by Haque [28]. The components, diallyl disulfide and diallyl trisulfide have been advertise by Lei et al. [13] to repress oxidized low-density lipoprotein (LDL)-induced vascular cell adhesion. Reports on the cardiovascular benefits of other garlic bioactive ingredients show that allicin had positively affect two atherosclerotic risk factors prohibiting the uptake of low density lipoprotein (LDL) and breaking down of macrophages [37]. Also, the mean final serum of high density lipoprotein (HDL) concentration in the atherosclerotic control rats was about 30% lower than that in the normal control ones. [1] Same reduction was reported by Ugwu and Suru [4]. In the present study, the mean final serum high density lipoprotein (HDL) concentration in the garlic treated rats was inculcated by almost 25% than that in the atherosclerotic control ones. Comparable results were also communicated by Ali et al.
[38] and Santhosha et al. [14]. They observed quite higher concentrations of serum high density lipoprotein (HDL) in the cholesterol fed rats treated with garlic.
Haque found serum high density lipoprotein (HDL) concentration increased by 30% in the garlic treated rats in comparison to rats fed on cholesterol diet only. Garlic juice could directly ameliorate atherosclerosis by its capability to suppress arterial cell lipid content, suppress intracellular lipid accumulation as well as the inhibition of lipogenic and cholesterogenic hepatic enzymes activities [39]. Significant differences (p˂0.05) in the weight loss pattern of the rats fed with a hypercholesterolemic diet (HPC) contrasted to those fed with the control diet was spotted. While, significant (p˂0.05) acquisition in the weight was accomplished in garlic-treated group ( Table 3). Losing of the weight assured by the organ to body weight ratio could be as a result of allowance in nutrient ingestion because of the high fat content of the diet which might have impaired the absorption of protein and other nutrients [20].

Conclusion
Rats on atherogenic diet treated with garlic showed better lipidemic status. On the other side, the untreated rats on a hypercholesterolemia diet showed significantly worst lipidemic status than that of the normal control ones as evident in higher serum triglycerides, cholesterol and low density lipoprotein (LDL), with lower serum high density lipoprotein (HDL) level, which apparent from significant difference between the two group. The present study has demonstrated that garlic has preventive effective against one of the deadliest killer disease (pathogenesis of atherosclerosis) due to the antilipidaemic role.